Growth plan takes Forrest beyond £100m

Preston-based property specialist Forrest has registered annual sales of more than £100m for the first time in its 58-years of trading.

The group, which undertakes refurbishment and environmental improvement projects in the social housing sector, also saw profits rise, up 17 per cent to £8.2m for the year.

Chief executive Lee McCarren said “Our absolute focus on securing long-term, sustainable growth through offering a broad-package of support services continues to fuel our expansion.

“By investing in both our core operations and emerging environmental services, we continue to position ourselves at the leading edge in the built environment and the first to market with new solutions.”

A focus on developing long-term partnerships saw it recently secure a ten-year, £70m agreement with housing association Bolton at Home in addition to forming a new £88m joint venture Ring Stones with Burnley-based housing association, Calico Homes. Forrest Green, the firm’s environmental services division, has continued to fuel growth with the operation becoming one of the first registered installers under the Government’s multi-billion pound Green Deal initiative, while also running one of the UK’s inaugural Energy Company Obligation (ECO) projects in Bolton.