AN awesome £200 million book of orders has been announced by a North Yorkshire development and construction company.

S Harrison Group Ltd of Malton today announced its healthy prospects for 2005, along with record profits for 2004.

The group reported pre-tax profit at £3.18 million on a turnover of £28 million, compared with a £2.24 million profit in 2003.

It also declared cash reserves of almost £4 million for investment in future projects, as it seeks to further expand its team and its businesses across the Midlands and the North.

Forward orders stand at more than £200 million, propelling what began 50 years ago as a one-man housebuilding venture into the big league, with the founder's son, Martyn Harrison, now as chairman.

Mr Harrison said the challenge was to continue strengthening the team to maintain the high standards on which the business had been built.

He said: "Success attracts success, so the scale, nature and security of the projects we have on the books should help attract the high calibre of new recruits, at every level, that we are seeking to join the team."

In January, Harrison beat off competition from 20 national companies to be selected as preferred developer for the £80 million scheme to regenerate Lichfield city centre. This was the big one which would help to "secure the group's future into the rest of the decade", Mr Harrison said.

The successful developments business has also partnered with the North West Development Agency and Allerdale Borough Council to lead the £50 million regeneration of Workington town centre, where the new Washington Square shopping complex has attracted major high street retailers to the town for the first time.

Closer to home, Harrison has started work on its 13th construction project at the University of York Science Park, where it has been praised for helping to bring new science-based jobs to the region.

Its social housing projects included the 150-home Tedder Road estate in Acomb, York, the design of which has been praised by police for ending persistent crime on the estate.

Among several projects in West Yorkshire, Harrison is partnering with social housing provider Housing 21 to build 40 new sheltered accommodation units in Bradford.

The group has also expanded its operation in South Yorkshire, with major development and construction projects in Sheffield valued at more than £50 million.

The year began well with the handover of the impressive St Catherine's Hospice in Scarborough. And in Whitby and York respectively, the waterfront developments Whitehall Landing and Merchant Exchange - both successful joint venture schemes - were completed.

Updated: 09:34 Friday, May 06, 2005