The housebuilding industry appears to be entering a new round of consolidations and sell-offs. The Berkeley Group has offloaded its Crosby Homes operation to Australian construction giant Lend Lease for £235.7 million; US property firm Centex is reviewing its UK operation, Fairclough Homes, with a possible view to selling it; contractor Kier has bought Lincolnshire-based Ashwood Homes’ £23.5 million landbank, and there are whisperings that Persimmon may be looking for an acquisition. <p></p><p>Berkeley’s sale of Crosby follows its recently announced preliminary results, which show pre-tax profits of £202.9 million down 11.7% on last year. The sale gives Berkeley a strong cushion of capital – an estimated profit on sale of £60 million, which will be used to reduce debt ahead of a £242 million dividend Berkeley has promised to pay in December 2006, as part of a £1.4 billion cash return to shareholders by 2011. It also gives Crosby’s chief executive Geoff Hutchinson and its four others directors a personal windfall of up to £25 million. </p><p>Berkeley md Tony Pidgley said: "I am delighted to announce this transaction, which allows Berkeley to focus on its core market in London and the south east, and gives Berkeley greater financial flexibility for …