This expected profit for the year ending December 31 2021 compares with FY 2020’s £143.9m with the company saying the group’s average weekly private sales rate per outlet increased to 0.76 during the period from the previous year’s 0.53.
The group's Housebuilding division saw a significant step up in completions in 2021, totalling 6,551 units against 2020’s 4,652. Private units totalled 4,891 (FY20: 3,668). The average selling price of the units increased marginally to £304,000 against the previous year’s £303,000. Vistry said this reflected the increase in affordable units, from 2020’s 984 to 1,660.
Housebuilding’s gross margin is still expected to be “in excess” of 22% (FY20: 17.6%).
And Vistry Partnerships “made excellent progress” in rapidly increasing its higher-margin mixed tenure revenues. During 2021, mixed tenure completions climbed 41% to 2,088. The average selling price of these grew to £229,000 from 2020’s £204,000.
The group noted a strong forward sales position, with total Housebuilding and Partnership mixed tenure forward sales up 24% to £1.94 billion as of December 31 2021 against the end of 2020.
Vistry added that for 2022, it expected to achieve a significant step up in profits and returns. This includes Partnerships reaching revenue of “at least” £1bn and an operating margin above 10%.
The business also said it would work with the government as well as the Home Builders Federation to deliver a solution to the remediation of high rise buildings, following the recent letter from the levelling up secretary Michael Gove to the industry.
A statement from Vistry read: “We continue to consider all relevant cases and are committed to meeting any liability which we identify."
Greg Fitzgerald, CEO, said: “2021 has been an excellent year for Vistry Group with progress and success achieved across all areas of the business.
“We are focused on leveraging the group’s unique combination of Housebuilding and Partnerships assets as well as our strength and capability across all housing tenures, with our target of delivering sector-leading returns in the medium term.”
