<p>Countryside and Kier have issued positive trading statements to the City this morning.</p> <p>Countryside, reporting on the 13 week period from October 1 2016 to the end of the year, says the firm saw overall completions up an impressive 23% year on year to 581 units. Net reservation rates were up 20% with open sales outlets up to 46 from 32 last year.</p> <p>The firm reported growth in both its private and partnerships divisions with its private average selling price managed lower to improve affordability of the firm's product. The firm says it sees some weakness at the top end of the market but this is "more than compensated for" by strong performance at lower price points.</p> <p>Ian Sutcliffe, Countryside group chief executive, said: "We are pleased with the tremendous progress across both divisions. Our balanced and differentiated business model positions us well to deliver growth, capital efficiency and long term resilience. We continue to see further significant opportunity in the partnerships division and strong growth in our housebuilding division."</p> <p>At Kier the residential division is part of the wider construction group which performed in line with expectations in the second half of 2016.</p> <p>The firm said that the residential …