Firm saw a 9% drop in revenue at its construction business

Wates

Wates has blamed the lingering effects of the Brexit referendum for a drop in turnover at its construction business last year.

In its financial results for the year ending 31 December 2018, Wates鈥 construction business posted turnover of 拢849m 鈥 a 9% dip on its 2017 figure.

The contractor said the reduction was 鈥渁 residual effect of the deceleration in the market in the quarters before and after the EU referendum鈥.

The firm said its turnover across the whole business sat at 拢1.6bn - within 1% of the 拢1.62bn recorded in 2017.

It said it had been helped by growth in its residential development and property services divisions on the back of key contract wins in regeneration and social housing.

The firm, which posted a pre-tax profit of 拢35.9m, said it had a pipeline of 拢5.4bn heading into 2019.

From a construction perspective Wates said it had secured contracts from a number of key clients, including the Parliamentary Estates, who handed the firm the 拢500m Northern Estate Programme job.

Wates also highlighted its spot on Scape鈥檚 construction framework, which was responsible for the contractor scoring the 拢50m contract to build the aquatic centre for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.