Last checked at 
* Co reports 22% order book growth in 2019
* There is a bit of pent up demand -CEO
* Completions up 5%, average price up 2%
* Earnings due Feb 26
* Shares up 1.7%
(Adds CEO quotes, background)
By Muvija M and Samantha Machado
Jan 14 (Reuters) - Taylor Wimpey's order book jumped
22% in 2019 to 2.18 billion pounds ($2.83 billion), the
housebuilder said on Tuesday, aided by the government's Help to
Buy scheme, and said it saw positive signs in 2020.
"The environment is more positive at this point in the year
than we have seen for the last couple of years. There is a bit
of pent-up demand there. There is positive potential," CEO Peter
Redfern told Reuters.
Taylor Wimpey in its trading update reported a 5% rise in
home completions in 2019 and a 2% rise in its overall average
selling price to 269,000 pounds.
Shares in Taylor Wimpey, which is due to report its full
results on Feb 26, were up 1.7% at 205 pence at 1016 GMT.
"Despite ongoing economic and political uncertainty, the
housing market remained stable throughout 2019, albeit with more
challenging conditions in London and the South East and at
higher price points," the company said.
Britain's housing market has been pressured since the UK
voted to leave the European Union in 2016, creating uncertainty
over how, when and even if Brexit would occur.
The company said it expects in-line results for 2019 while
for 2020 the focus would be on cost discipline.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson winning a clear majority last
month was seen as a positive for the Brexit process as it paved
the way for quicker decisions by lawmakers on departure-related
matters.
"I think the environment is more relaxed and confident than
12 months ago. Mortgage availability and pricing remains very
good, those are all positive indicators," Redfern told Reuters.
Britain's third-largest homebuilder after Barratt
and Persimmon had said in November it was still seeing
demand for its houses despite the market uncertainty created by
the Brexit process.
"The strong order book...does not feel as if earnings are
going to suddenly soar, especially as price increases are
flattening out," said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ
Bell.
($1 = 0.7711 pounds)
(Reporting by Muvija M and Samantha Machado in Bengaluru;
editing by Uttaresh.V and Jason Neely)
