Bovis, the Kent housebuilder, has more than doubled half-year profits amid signs of a modest upturn in the housing market.

Results from the New Ash Green-based group came as mortgage approvals rose 1.5% to a 14-month high and a gloomy report from the National Housing Federation warned that a generation could be shut out of the property market.

Bovis Homes Group hiked pre-tax profit to £8.1m in the first six months of 2011 (H1 2010 - £3.5m). Turnover edged up to £133.6m (H1 2010 - £115.6m).

Legal completions stayed about the same at 801 (H1 2010 - 803), while the average price increase by 3.2% to £163,400 (2010 - £158,400).

Bovis opened new sites and sales outlets and added more than 1,500 consented plots, with terms agreed on a further 2,500, mainly across southern England.

The company reported strong trading in 2011 to date with a 19% increase in private reservations. David Ritchie, chief executive, said the group had delivered a strong performance in "stable but challenging" market conditions.

Higher pre-tax profits were due to improved margins "generated from lower construction costs on existing sites and the initial contribution from new higher margin sites acquired since the housing market downturn."

Bovis declared a 1.5p interim dividend.