A HOUSEBUILDER expects to continue surmounting Brexit anxieties despite the termination of a Government support scheme.

Persimmon says demand for its homes, particularly from first-time buyers, has lifted sales and bolstered confidence.

Jeff Fairburn, chief executive, also told The Northern Echo he doesn’t believe his company’s momentum will be stymied by the conclusion of the Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme, since the funding didn’t solely target new builds.

The Government’s Help to Buy programme, which is still providing support to buyers across a number of other financial disciplines, has been a key driver in helping housebuilders retain buyers’ interest.

According to Persimmon’s latest annual results, released yesterday, such support, when combined with its plots, which include a number in the North-East, provided a real boost.

Mr Fairburn said sales lifted by 599 to 15,171 in the year to December 31, with the business’ average selling price up four per cent to £206,700.

Revenues were eight per cent stronger at £3.14bn and Mr Fairburn confirmed the company, which has offices in Bowburn, near Durham City, will continue to look at new land for properties, despite uncertainties caused by the EU referendum.

He said: “It was a good second half to the year and we are keen to continue increasing volume to meet the demand we are seeing.

“The uncertainty from the Brexit vote was short-lived and we very quickly saw customers coming out of our sites and wanting to make reservations.

“We have got a good forward sales position and we think as long as people have jobs and the mortgage market is willing to lend…there is no reason to believe (the future market) won’t be stable.

“But maybe more will happen this year in terms of Brexit?”

Mr Fairburn said Persimmon, which has its headquarters in York and further offices in Newcastle and Thornaby, near Stockton, was also calm over the Help to Buy mortgage changes.

He said its closure could be a positive thing for housebuilders such as Persimmon, which mainly targets first-time buyers, as financial incentives to make new builds affordable remain in place.

Mr Fairburn also confirmed his business’ commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent was going well.

The Northern Echo previously revealed how the business had set up the Combat to Construction programme to deliver jobs by re-training former military personnel to become bricklayers and joiners.

Revealing a number of people are now on sites, with a further crop receiving on-the-job training, He added: “It has been good and we have a good training environment.

“Combat to Construction is a good way of introducing people to the market but we are also still training traditional apprentices too.”

Persimmon has developments in Shildon, County Durham, Shotton, near Peterlee, east Durham, and Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton.