This is on top of jobs created indirectly down the supply chain.
The calculation comes from Berkeley Group, which says that it has created more than 5,000 construction jobs since 2009.
And it is well set to create many more.
In an interim management statement to shareholders this morning, Berkeley said that it had acquired or agreed terms on a further seven sites in recent months for a total £80m. This includes the former Royal Mail sorting depot in Twickenham for 129 homes and a site on Albert Embankment in London with an existing consent for 242 new homes. The gross margin potential in Berkeley's land bank is expected to exceed £2.5bn by 30 April, the company’s financial year-end.
Berkeley said that demand for its residential property in London and the southeast had been resilient since the beginning of the year, consistent in general terms with market conditions throughout 2011.
The company said in its statement: “Despite the wider economic challenges, Berkeley has delivered a robust trading performance over the period, most noticeably through the further growth in cash due on forward sales which currently exceed £1bn compared with £813m at 1 May 2011. The visibility provided by these forward sales has given Berkeley the confidence to continue to invest in the delivery of its developments, including the launch of seven new schemes in the period, whilst retaining appropriate control over balance sheet risk given current market conditions.”
The company reiterated that it would meet its target of doubling profit before tax to some £220m by 30 April 2013 - two years earlier than originally planned - and would enhance the value of its land bank to some £3bn by April 2015.
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