The south east housing market has been resilient in difficult times, according to housebuilder Persimmon.

In what will be taken as a more optimistic assessment of the property market, the company with eight developments across the county said that there was underlying demand for property in the region but the mortgage squeeze had depressed sales. Persimmon has laid off 2,000 staff since the New Year.

Persimmon's half-year results to June 30 revealed there had been 5,500 completions (down from 8,000 in the same period a year ago) at an average selling price of £181,485, down from £189,255. It said the lower selling price was partly down to an increasing proportion of affordable housing.

Sales were £998.4million, down 34 per cent from £1,514million in the same period in 2007. Sales for the second half of 2008 were around £835m, again down on the previous year. Profits fell to £100.9million against £281million.

But Edward Owens, managing director of Persimmon Homes South East, said: "Given the challenging current economic climate, the market in the south east has been extremely resilient over the past six months, highlighting the underlying strength of demand and limited supply faced by homebuyers."

Its policy of concentrating on two, three and four bedroom homes had limited its exposure to the troubled apartment sector. He singled out Bridgefield at Park Farm, Ashford, as a development that had created a well-designed and integrated community.

Even so, Persimmon said it was facing the most challenging trading conditions in its recent history, with the housing market difficult across all UK regions.

Company chairman John White said: "A key difference that we have experienced during the current downturn has been that all our divisions experienced similar trading conditions at the same time.

"Pressure on volumes, prices and an increase in sales and marketing costs have been experienced in all parts of the country. This is unusual, as normally in tougher markets there is a time lag as local economies react at different times.

"The reality is that obtaining a mortgage, which is the largest factor affecting the housing market, is equally difficult in every part of the UK at present."

He added that speculation that the Government may suspend stamp duty on house sales had also caused further delay and uncertainty.

Persimmon's current Kent and Medway developments are at Ashford (Repton Park and Bridgefield), Sovereign Quarter, Gillingham, The Mews, Sandgate, Clarence Place, Isle of Sheppey, Heronsbrook, Minster, Medway Gate, Strood, and De Clare Place, Hadlow.