The FirstBuy scheme helped 1,203 customers purchase homes, while the NewBuy and the Scottish MI New Home schemes supported a further 546 homebuyers, the house building group reported.

Thanks to additional government funding of £280m to build a further 16,500 announced in November, it plans to extend its FirstBuy support this year.

The 2012 trading statement, which also welcomed Funding for Lending, concluded: “Two weeks into 2013, consumer sentiment towards the housing market is more positive than we have seen in recent times.

“Clearly it is too early to judge the market for the year, but we maintain a positive, although cautious view in the short term.”

Average selling prices on Taylor Wimpey’s private property completions rose by 6% over 2012 to an average of £181,000, driven primarily by building in quality locations. The group saw an increase of 40% in profit overall.

Taylor Wimpey chief executive Pete Redfern said 2012 had been a year of significant progress: “We are delivering on the strategy that we set out in 2011, including a return to UK double digit operating margin ahead of schedule.

“As we look forward to 2013, we are confident that we will continue to deliver against our key objectives and target further improvement.”

The announcement comes a week after the construction company Persimmon attributed a growth in first-time buyer interest to the FirstBuy scheme.