The Sheffield firm also said its construction arm was on track to exceed budgeted turnover for the year and expected to secure 60% of next year’s turnover at year end.
But it warned that traditional construction work going forward would be difficult to find at an acceptable margin in the present market.
In a cautiously upbeat half-year trading statement, Boot said social housing was providing a steady stream of building work under long-term frameworks in Scunthorpe, Manchester, and Doncaster.
Its construction arm has just won two new schemes in Hull and Wakefield under the EN Procure Framework and a second scheme under the Yorkshire Housing Framework.
Boot’s land and development pipeline promises to deliver better returns this year.
Hallam Land will shortly release for sale a record number of consented sites at Banbury, Mansfield, Bishopbriggs, Kilmarnock, Torrance, Edinburgh, Desford, Tillicoultry, Long Buckby, Kegworth, Highbridge, Winsford and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Development pipeline
The firm has signed a deal with Tesco to build a 36,000 sq ft store at its Thorne development site in Doncaster, with construction work across the wider scheme due to start in the first half of 2013.
A building contract has been let and contractors are on site, converting the listed former County Court House on Deansgate, Manchester, to office, retail and leisure use.
The first development project in the joint venture with Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust will start construction next month, following the grant of detailed planning permission and listed building consent for the conversion of a 56,000 sq ft mill.
Boot also exchanged contracts with Lloyds TSB Bank on a 6-acre site in Chesterfield with considerable development potential. Negotiations are underway with several potential occupiers ahead of seeking planning.
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