Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Sales rose 16 per cent to £1.711 bn and pre-tax profit increased 42 per cent to £267.6m.

Persimmon completed the sale of 12,352 homes in 2002, a modest increase over the previous year.

Alan Hadman, MD of Persimmon Homes Anglia said: “Demand for new homes throughout 2002 has been exceptionally high in this region and, despite forecasts to the contrary, continues into 2003.

“As a result of this demand, Persimmon Homes Anglia has produced the best results in its 27-year history.”

In the coming year, the local division anticipates starting seven new developments, four on so-called brownfield land.

The most prominent of these is at the former Norfolk & Norwich Hospital site.