A HOUSEBUILDER has vowed to continue fighting planning delays as it seeks to take advantage of rising demand.

Persimmon says deferrals on site permission is hampering attempts to deliver more homes.

However, the company, which has offices in Bowburn, near Durham City, said the frustrations have been tempered by a strong order book and clamour from buyers to get on the property ladder.

According to its latest results, covering the period from January 1 to today (Thursday, April 14), the business has seen sales rise eight per cent on last year to £2.15bn, with its weekly private sales rate per site six per cent better off.

Forward sales of new homes stand at more than 7,500, with an average selling price of £220,000, which is 5.8 per cent stronger than a year ago.

It added customer visits to show properties are 12 per cent ahead of last year.

Jeff Fairburn, chief executive, said despite its planning barriers, the company expects to continue making good progress, helped by the effects of a growth initiative launched in 2012.

He said: “Planning delays continue to erode the total number of active outlets being developed by the industry, hindering the drive to increase volumes of newly-built homes.

“However, we are working hard to increase our active outlet numbers towards 400 by the end of 2016 and will continue to focus on increasing output to meet demand.

“Growing the business as market conditions allow is at the heart of our strategy, launched in 2012, which has (already) delivered a 56 per cent increase in new homes completed, invested more than £2.2bn in new land and opened 812 new sites.

“We are in a strong position to continue making good progress.”

Persimmon’s growth is being helped by a commitment to nurture the next generation of talent.

The Northern Echo previously revealed how the business, which is headquartered in York, had set up the Combat to Construction programme.

Supported by Darlington’s Nordic Focus Training Group, it aims to deliver jobs by re-training former military personnel.

Mr Fairburn added: “We are starting to see the first people come through and there are now about 200 people on it; we’ve got bricklayers and joiners coming through.

“There are a lot in the North; a lot of ex-servicemen do come from the North, but we have got a lot right across the UK.

“We are (also) training more people; we have got more than 600 apprentices and trainees to make sure we can build the houses.”

Persimmon also has offices in Newcastle and Thornaby, near Stockton, and has developments in Shildon, County Durham, Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, and Peterlee, east Durham.