Construction鈥檚 richest man remains Bloor Homes founder John Bloor

steve morgan

The man who sold part of Northern Ireland-based Lagan Group for 拢455m last spring and the founders of London contractor Ardmore are both new entries to this year鈥檚 Sunday Times Rich List

The annual ranking of the UK鈥檚 1,000 wealthiest people puts Kevin Lagan, who masterminded the sale of Lagan Group鈥檚 aggregates business to Breedon, as having an estimated fortune of 拢440m.

Brothers Cormac and Patrick Byrne set up the 拢257m-turnover Ardmore in 1974 as a small building firm in Brixton, south London, and are now estimated to have a fortune of 拢170m.

Also making the list with a fortune of 拢170m is Norman Foster, the founder of Foster + Partners which won last year鈥檚 Stirling prize for the Bloomberg building in the City of London.

That scheme was built by Sir Robert McAlpine with the McAlpine family having an estimated fortune of 拢202m.

Others to make this year鈥檚 list include Laing O鈥橰ourke chairman Ray O鈥橰ourke with an estimated fortune of 拢337m 鈥 up from last year鈥檚 拢306m 鈥 while Keltbray owner Brendan Kerr, a new entry last year, remains on the list with a fortune of 拢152m.

Redrow founder Steve Morgan (pictured), who left the business earlier this year and is a persistent critic of Persimmon鈥檚 bonus scheme, saw his fortune tick up 拢8m last year to 拢950m while the founder of Persimmon, Duncan Davidson, is estimated to have a fortune of 拢149m.

Also on the list is James Wates and family with an estimated worth of 拢300m, while former Bowmer & Kirkland chairman John Kirkland, who stepped down from the role at the Derbyshire contractor earlier this year, is estimated to be worth 拢585m.

Construction鈥檚 richest man, Bloor Homes founder John Bloor, who also owns Triumph motorcycles, has an estimated fortune of 拢1.92bn.

But he is some way behind Anthony Bamford, who is in charge of the JCB construction equipment business, who has an estimated fortune of 拢4.15bn.