<p><span>Crest Nicholson has appointed Galliford Try ceo Peter Truscott as its new chief executive, as it reported it was likely to continue to experience “dampened customer demand” in higher priced areas as political uncertainty continues, it said today (March 26). </span></p><p><span>Issuing a trading update ahead of its Annual General Meeting, the housebuilder stated that despite the prevailing difficult backdrop, “with employment levels at record highs, a wide range of available mortgages and a structural undersupply of new housing, we are confident in the long term future of our core housing markets”. </span></p> <p><span>Crest said that at its full year results in January, it had revealed its refreshed strategy, which focused on shareholder returns “by prioritising cashflow and dividends, maximising value in the portfolio and improving operational efficiency”.</span></p> <p><span>Its total forward sales position, at £686 million, is “encouraging”, Crest said, thanks to stable pricing in its key markets and sales matching previous guidance. It has secured more than 50% of its open market sales for the year.</span></p><p><span>Crest added that the recent launch of its new Aurora housing range, alongside its ongoing offsite manufacturing scale trials will “continue to contribute operational efficiencies across the business in the medium term”. </span></p> <p><span>It said …