The regional head of one of the UK’s biggest housebuilders says the company is ready to deliver more new homes in the local area this year, following a busy 2015.

Andrew Fuller, managing director of the Anglia business of Persimmon, said work would start on new sites in five locations during the first half of 2016, with more expected to following in the second half.

He was speaking following a trading update from Persimmon, which also operates under the Charles Church and Westbury Partnerships brands, in which it said revenues for 2015 would come in 13% up on the previous year at £2.9billion, helped by a surve in legal completions in the second half.

Mr Fuller said: “As a business, 2015 was a strong year, with completions increasing 8% to 14,572. The second half of the year was particularly strong, with the company legally completing 7,717 homes, which was 13% more than in the same period in 2014.

“Here in the Anglia region, our focus is on delivery of a range of homes to suit all buyers, whether they are first time home purchasers or people looking to move up the ladder.

“We plan to start work on developments in Hethersett, Exning, Framlingham, Sudbury and Caister in the first half of this year and we are actively working with local authorities to gain planning permission in Martham, Diss, North Walsham, Norwich, and many other locations throughout Norfolk and Suffolk for the second half of 2016.

“We know that there is a huge need for new homes in these areas and we would call on local planning teams to work with us to ensure we deliver.”

In its trading update, Persimmon also said it average selling price rose by 4.5% last year to £199,100 and that it was starting 2016 with a forward order book of around £1.1billion, 13% ahead of the previous year.

Persimmon Anglia currently has 134 employees, out of a national total of around 4,500, and expects to recruit more people in the region during 2016.