HOUSE builder Persimmon has said it expected to sell around 25% more houses in Scotland this year.

The company completed 850 units in 2012 and is on course to surpass that with both its east and west divisions doing well. Mike Killoran, group finance director, indicated the Scottish market had been a "robust" performer for the business.

He said: "We have been encouraged by the improvement in the market in both the east and west of Scotland. Our sales this year will probably be around 25% ahead of last year and that has to be seen in the context of the Help to Buy measures, only now just being introduced."

Persimmon said house hunters here were already using the government support scheme, which was only rolled out in Scotland in September.

Help to Buy offers help for up to 20% of the cost of new-build homes worth up to £400,000, over a three-year period, meaning buyers have to find just a 5% deposit.

Mr Killoran said: "The wider messaging around Help to Buy does remind people that to buy their own home with the assistance is an affordable option."

Underlying house prices are relatively flat with Mr Killoran saying Persimmon was happy with that.

He said: "At the end of the day we don't really want house price inflation in the market.

"The nearest thing to our heart is to protect customer affordability to make sure the market is sustained in the medium to long term.

"We are not looking for house price inflation to deliver additional profitability as we believe the investments we have made in our sites will deliver our plan."

Persimmon said its order book for 2014 was 41% ahead with £650 million of forward sales reserved.

Visitor levels to sites are running 20% up while cancellation rates are at a historically low 16%.

The company is upping production from its Space4 timber frame factory to keep up with demand.

Mr Killoran said the facility allowed a house frame to be erected and a roof put on in a single day.