Help to Buy surge

SHARES in urban regeneration specialist MJ Gleeson fell despite soaring demand thanks to the Government’s Help To Buy scheme.

It revealed at its AGM yesterday that it expects to build 20pc more homes this year than it did last year, and that its Gleeson Homes business is selling properties on 58 sites, compared with 50 this time last year, and is hoping to increase this to nearly 70 by June.

The Help To Buy scheme helps househunters secure a mortgage on a new home, and is used by 63pc of Gleeson customers.

Shares slipped 0.7pc, or 5p, to 750p.