Solid foundations: Barratt assures market over forward sales pace

Barratt Developments has shrugged off Brexit pressures in the property market as the housebuilding giant “modestly” increased its full-year outlook after a strong start to the year. The UK’S largest house - builder said total forward sales were up 2.4 per cent to £3.4 billion, while weekly net private reservations remained largely stable at 0.79 against 0.8 a year earlier. But it became the latest builder to outline rising cost pressures, with build inflation set to be 3 per cent to 4 per cent in 2018/19 and remain at a similar level throughout 2019.