Chocolate factory in boost for Henry Boot

Property developer Henry Boot said its 2016 results will be slightly ahead of market expectations after a busy December for deals.

The Sheffield-based firm said 44 residential sales were completed in December at the Chocolate Factory residential development in York and at Stonebridge Projects, its housebuilding joint venture.

The redevelopment of the Terry’s Chocolate Factory in York has been one of the group’s star performers.

The site will have 170 flats in total, ranging from one bedroom to three bedroom apartments.

The group said that construction work on the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre development is ahead of schedule, resulting in marginally higher profits for the year to December 31.

The group said it now expects profit before tax and earnings per share for 2016 will be slightly ahead of market expectations.

It said it has started 2017 in an “excellent position“ to achieve another year of further progress, delivering growth in long-term shareholder value, despite the continuing macroeconomic concerns regarding the EU Referendum.

The group will announce its 2016 results on March 24.

The group said pre-tax profit leapt 49 per cent to £21m in the six months to June 30.