AN affordable housing provider’s dream of clocking up 1,000 annual sales has moved closer to reality after Government support bolstered market confidence.

MJ Gleeson says demand remains healthy as Help to Buy schemes offer fertile ground to grow its industry presence.

Earlier this year, the company revealed it was closing in on the sales landmark, with bosses claiming its affordability, compared to council house rents, was luring property hunters.

Speaking at the firm’s annual general meeting yesterday, Dermot Gleeson, chairman, echoed the positivity, saying it expects deals to tick over the 1,000 mark by June next year.

The business has homes across the North-East, including properties in Middlesbrough and Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, and Mr Gleeson said their affordability was delivering delight for lower-earning families.

Confirming its Gleeson Homes division expects annual sales to rise 15 per cent to around 1,040, he also revealed the firm, which has offices in Chester-le-Street and Wynyard Park, near Stockton, has had people queuing up to get on its developments.

He added: “Demand has been strong, with net reservations up 20 per cent, and site activity is high with 14 new sites opened during the last six months.

“Several of our new sites (are) attracting lengthy queues before opening and the Government’s Help to Buy scheme has remained popular.

“The division’s increasing number of sales outlets, combined with very strong customer demand in all regions, good mortgage availability and attractive levels of affordability means the outlook is very positive.”

Mr Gleeson said the optimism had filtered into its land division, which helps landowners get good deals for Greenfield sites.

He added: “In the first five months of the current financial year, Gleeson Strategic Land continued to experience strong demand for consented land.

“It completed the sale of two sites with planning permission for a combined total of 180 consented plots and is progressing sale negotiations on a further 11 sites.”

Gleeson has homes across County Durham in New Kyo, near Annfield Plain; Chilton, near Ferryhill; and Leadgate, near Consett, It is also behind developments in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, and Peterlee, east Durham.

Earlier this year, bosses revealed £40m expansion plans to build on the rising demand, saying the cash injection would help open more construction sites.

The backing, from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, included a £20m pot open for operating purposes and a separate £20m tranche to help get more first-time buyers on the property ladder.