NI builder in talks to buy Scottish site

NORTHERN Ireland construction giant FP McCann is in negotiations to take on a site in Scotland.

The Magherafelt firm is in discussions with UK-headquartered Laing O’Rourke to buy its Bison, Uddingston, facility and assets.

It is understood that around 50 staff at the site will be transferred across to FP McCann, and no jobs will be lost.

The deal is expected to be completed by the end of this month.

The firm said that the offer to Laing O’Rourke “allows for future investment and business growth at Uddingston”.

FP McCann is the largest maker and supplier of pre-cast concrete in Northern Ireland, and employs around 1,500 staff.

In its latest published accounts, the family-owned firm reported a 24.4% growth in turnover to £168.7m for the 11 months to the end of December 2015.

Pre-tax profit were up 21.6% to £12.3m.

FP McCann has been in business for more than 70 years and is run by the McCann family.

The firm has plants in Knockloughrim and Lisnaskea, and 10 locations in England.

It is also involved in joint venture operations with Dutch giant BAM for large-scale road and rail projects.

In 2015, the company bought over the Co Fermanagh quarry and construction firm P Clarke and Sons after it went into administration.

It also added to its pre-cast concrete arm with the acquisition of Buchan Concrete Products, a long-established firm employing 300 people in Cheshire and Staffordshire which was also in administration.