黑洞社区

GB Group has completed the sale of one of the world鈥檚 most historic football stadiums, the 140-year-old Saltergate stadium in Chesterfield, to Barratt Homes.

The developer-contractor - which took control of the Saltergate site three years ago as part of a deal to build Chesterfield FC鈥檚 new 10,600 capacity B2net stadium - sold the site to Barratt for an undisclosed sum before Christmas.

锘縏here are signs that demand [for solar] will hold up. We believe there will be some pay back

Martin Smout, GB 黑洞社区

GB Group confirmed the sale to 黑洞社区 as it unveiled solid results for the financial year to 30 June 2011, with profit and turnover both up on the previous year.

Turnover at the group rose 4% from 拢125.1m to 拢130.1m, while pre-tax profit rose 10% from 拢186,000 to 拢204,000.

Turnover and pre-tax profit did similarly well at the firm鈥檚 building arm GB 黑洞社区 Solutions, the results of which do not take into account the company鈥檚 development investments.

Turnover grew from 拢125m to 拢125.9m at GB 黑洞社区 Solutions, while pre-tax profit grew from 拢428,000 to 拢440,000.

GB 黑洞社区 Group鈥檚 chief executive Martin Smout told 黑洞社区 the solid performance reflected the company鈥檚 efforts to restructure the business away from pure contracting.

Smout said the outlook also looked positive for the group鈥檚 six-month-old renewable energy division, which is on course to turnover 拢6-7m in its first financial year.

He added demand for solar was showing signs of holding up, despite the recent cut in the feed-in tariff.

He said: 鈥淭here are signs that demand will hold up. With falling prices [from suppliers] we believe there will still be pay back over 10 years. We鈥檙e going through the sums with clients.鈥�

But Smout said the main areas of growth for the business would be in its care and development businesses.

The group acquired consultant Aston Care to further develop its expertise in this area two years ago.

The group鈥檚 development arm is developing five sites in all sectors in total.

Smout said he was pleased the group had secured another contract for the University of Bradford following the successful completion of student halls, The Green, which was awarded the highest ever 鈥渙utstanding鈥� BREEAM rating in the world of 95.05%.