HOUSEBUILDER Barratt Developments said there were signs buyer confidence had returned to the market following a lift in sales completions and profits.

The Newcastle-based firm said despite testing market conditions during the six months to December 31, the group saw a two per cent rise in legal completions to 7,003 homes at an average selling price of £165,000, similar to last year.

Private completions were one per cent lower at 5,569 at an increased selling price of around £180,000 and social housing completions increased by 14 per cent at a maintained selling price of around £106,000.

It said recent sales had been 'encouraging' and put it on target to increase its volume of sales.

As a results interim results on March 29 are expected to show an improvement in pre-tax profits.