The firm issued a bullish trading update to the City today detailing work currently under way on 313 sites across the UK compared to 284 last year.

Taylor Wimpey expects to complete 4,550 homes during the first half of 2011 at an average selling price of £170,000 compared to 4,804 last time for £168,000.

The firm said: “We remain focused on maximising the value achieved from each home completion and expect to report a strong improvement in the UK operating margin at the half year results.”

Results are due on August 3 and the house builder made an operating margin of 6.7% last year.

Pete Redfern, Group Chief Executive, said: “We are well positioned to deliver further margin improvement in the UK, beyond our double digit operating margin target for 2012, through the development of our extensive strategic land portfolio.”

The company has also launched a training programme for staff to adapt to planning changes under the Localism Bill.