House builder Taylor Wimpey has entered 2015 with a positive outlook on the housing market, with a ‘record’ order book that is hopefully a sign of slight improvements in the housing market.

In a statement released before the financial year-end results due in March, Taylor Wimpey have announced that they had orders for 6,601 homes in December, worth well over £1bn, to see them into the new year.

Through 2014, the building developer had completed almost 12,500 homes, which was an increase of six per cent on 2013.

The Halifax has reportedly estimated that house price growth will halve this year, having risen by 7.8 per cent throughout 2014. It was hotly argued that this could have been the result of government schemes like Help to Buy inflating house prices, even as it helped people become first time buyers. Looking into the New Year however, a reduced price growth should help to create a “healthy and more sustainable housing market,” according to Taylor Wimpey.

The building firm went on to say: “Whilst the macro economic outlook is uncertain with a reduced risk of UK interest rate increases in the near term and sensible mortgage regulation, we believe that the market and political risk for our sector is balanced as we enter 2015, and the outlook remains positive.”

The continued use of government schemes like the Help to Buy Equity Loan and the Mortgage Guarantee, alongside new schemes like the Starter Home Initiative will hopefully help people to overcome the high prices and we will eventually see those prices coming down again.