<p>Taylor Wimpey has reported trading in line with expectations as Jennie Daly succeeds Pete Redfern as chief executive of the volume housebuilder today (April 26).</p> <p><span>Reporting on the period covering January 1 to today, Taylor Wimpey said it remained on track to deliver against its guidance as detailed in its 2021 full year results in March, in which it said it </span><span>continued to expect “</span><span>low single digit” year-on-year completion growth this year and to progress towards its 21-22% operating margin target.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>Today it noted its “strong” net private sales rate up to April 17 at 0.96 although this was slightly below the equivalent period of 2021’s 1.00. “Healthy” levels of price growth were continuing to offset labour and material cost inflation. It said that the recent rise in interest rates - from 0.5% to 0.75% - had</span><span> “not impacted customer appetite”.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>As of April 17, Taylor Wimpey’s total order book stood at around £2,972 million (2021 equivalent period: £2,808 million). This represents 10,957 homes (2021 equivalent period: 10,995 homes).</span></p><p></p> <p><span>Taylor Wimpey also pointed to signing the </span><a href="https://www.house-builder.co.uk/news/housebuilders-says-new-levy-threatens-jobs-and-affordable-housing">government’s fire safety pledge</a><span> this month. This has extended to 30 years its original commitment to bring all its apartment buildings above 11 …