Member Article

Henry Boot sets starting date for Terry’s chocolate factory development in York

Sheffield-based construction firm Henry Boot is to start work on the former Terry’s chocolate factory in York early next year.

Boot revealed its plans for the former chocolate factory (pictured above in 2007) as it reported pre-tax profits nearly doubled to £13.4 million in the first half of the year.

Chairman, John Brown, said: “Commercial development activity is now at its highest level since 2007 with new, pre-let developments achieving hurdle rates of return, expected to commence in the second half of the year.”

“The combination of this increased level of commercial development, our strategic land sites with well over 10,800 permissioned housing units available for future sale and the solid returns from the construction segment should strongly support growing shareholder returns into 2015 and beyond.”

“These developments, and the interest we have from hotel operators for the balance of the site, are all conditional upon securing detailed planning permission but we hope to make substantial progress with this by the year end with a view to commencing activity on site in 2015.”

The firm has already sold half the Terry’s chocolate factory site, which had residential planning consent, to house builder Barratt Developments.

A deal has also been finalised with a care home operator to convert the former headquarters building into an assisted living operation.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .