<p>Housing completions at Bellway in the six months to the end of January 2017 are up 6.5% on last year at 4,462 (2016 – 4,188) as the firm reports positive market conditions.</p> <p>In a trading statement ahead of its annual results next month Bellway reports a substantial forward order book with a value of £1,121 million (2016 – £1,027 million), comprising 4,487 homes (2016 – 4,434). The strong trading performance is expected to result in an operating margin of around 22% while the firm has made “significant” investment in land with £380 million spent on land and land creditors (2016 – £315 million).</p> <p>The firm reports robust customer demand with the purchase of a new home remaining affordable supported by a competitive mortgage environment and the Help to Buy scheme. This demand, together with an ongoing programme of site openings, has helped Bellway achieve a reservation rate of 166 homes per week (2016 – 156), an increase of more than 6% compared to the same period last year.</p> <p>The average selling price of private completions rose by more than 4% to £291,000 (2016 – £279,053) following investment in higher value locations over recent years. The overall average selling price of …