Cala revenue up 15% to £587m

Upmarket home builder Cala Group said its revenue rose 15% to £587.1 million and profit before tax — before exceptional items — jumped 18% £60.1 million in the year to June 30.

Edinburgh-based Cala said its average selling price rose 6% to £538,000 and its headcount was up 13% to 810.

Cala Group chief executive Alan Brown said: “2016 has been another record year with profits topping £60 million for the first time in the group’s history.

“Despite headwinds in some of our markets, we have continued to build on the strong momentum we have generated over recent years, once again delivering robust volume and revenue growth while still achieving incremental improvements in our return on capital employed.

“Our growth strategy remains to focus on driving operational efficiency improvements throughout the group as we continue scaling up our divisions.

“Alongside this, we continue to invest in building the size and capability of our teams, welcoming almost 100 additional members of staff to the business including our ongoing increase of apprenticeship and graduate recruitment initiatives across the group.

“In the 13 weeks since the EU referendum result, and although still early days, the group saw positive trading with total enquiry levels and reservation rates up 9% and 46% respectively while website users have also risen by 32% on the equivalent period last year.

“Sales prices have also remained stable while cancellation rates have actually reduced slightly.

“Overall, we remain on course to deliver an annual capacity of 2,000 to 2,500 units within the next four years through delivering premium quality, well designed homes and communities in prime locations across the UK.”