Countryside’s half year "significantly impacted"

May 15, 2020
<p><span>Countryside says its half year results have been “significantly” impacted by the coronavirus crisis, with the market outlook looking “highly uncertain”.</span><span></span></p> <p><span>During the six months to March 31 2020, the housebuilder and regeneration partner’s pre-tax profit fell 38% against HY 2019 to £</span><span>43.7</span><span> million with revenue sliding 5% to £481.2 million.</span><span></span></p> <p><span>The business estimates that around 184 completions, including 79 private, were lost due to the UK lockdown imposed in late March as well as five land sales, all resulting in a revenue drop of around £116 million. Countryside lost around £29 million in associated operating profit.</span><span></span></p> <p><span>The lost completions meant total completions fell 4% during the half year to 2,271 homes, also as a result of its construction programme being weighted towards the second half of the year. Private completions decreased 8% to 753.</span><span></span></p> <p><span>As of March 31, Countryside held 139 active sites<sup> </sup>(HY 2019: 140), achieving a net reservation rate of 0.93 against the previous year’s 0.86. The firm said that from October to February its net reservation rate was 31% ahead of the previous year.</span><span></span></p> <p><span>Its private average selling price for HY 2020 was £368,000 compared to last year’s £377,000.</span><span></span></p> <p><span>After closing all its physical operations on …

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