Henry Boot looks to a strong year as profits will easily beat expectations

The Sheffield-based firm said that seven land sales provided a satisfactory conclusion to 2014.

The group said it saw particular growth in its plant, construction and jointly owned house builder businesses.

Analysts believe that the housing market stimulus provided by the Government’s stamp duty reforms, which were announced last year, should result in a pick-up in demand from house builders,

Analyst Nick Spoliar, at WH Ireland, said: “This update reveals that after a strong December, the outcome for the year is well ahead of the already-upgraded forecasts.

“This is an impressive outcome which we attribute to a strong operating model combined with a meaningful dose of conservatism on the company’s part.

“While doubtless some of the extra is accounted for by valuation uplift, not included in our forecast, there is fundamental upside as well.”

He added that the group’s markets remain on a very good footing and, despite the uncertainties of the May general election, the fundamentals for the land business remain very strong.