Trading Statement

Persimmon PLC
19 December 2002

                                                              19th December 2002

Persimmon plc announces its regular trading update ahead of its preliminary
results to 31st December 2002, which will be announced on 3rd March 2003.


                           TRADING STATEMENT 19.12.02

For the year ending 31st December 2002, the Board of Persimmon is confident that
the Company will produce another record profit.  Legal completions are expected
to be in excess of 12,300 units and because of the group's focus on margins,
profits are likely to be at the top end of market expectations.

Persimmon continues its drive to maximise profit per plot and to benefit from
the economies of scale brought by the Beazer acquisition.   This has enabled us
to grow the group in spite of the fact that the UK planning environment remains
difficult and is restricting the supply of new homes.

Persimmon's prices have increased by an average of circa ten per cent across all
its regional markets, throughout the year.  Price increases in the new homes
market have been gradually slowing over the last few months and we welcome this
more sustainable level of price growth which gives us confidence in the
affordability of new houses for the future.

New housing has not experienced the same levels of price growth that have been
announced by recent indicators in the second-hand market.   Indeed, Persimmon
provides new homes to the broad spectrum of customers across the whole of the UK
at an average price of less than £140,000, prices which remain very attractive
to new home buyers.  The average price of homes sold in our core business this
year is circa £130,000 and in Charles Church circa £265,000.

Cash generation has been strong and gearing will be reduced further to circa 40%
(December 2001: 63%) at the year end, whilst maintaining a well bought land bank
with over 4 years supply.

Visitor levels remain firm and the value of forward sales into next year of
circa £440 million is 15% ahead of last year putting Persimmon in a very strong
position for 2003.

- ENDS -



For further information, please contact:

John White, Group Chief Executive                           Edward Orlebar/ Jenna Littler
Mike Killoran, Group Finance Director                       Finsbury Group
Persimmon plc                                               Tel: [phone]
Tel: [phone] (today)
Tel: [phone] (thereafter)


Print resolution images are available for media download at www.newscast.co.uk




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange