15/5/2012 GDC lays the foundations for growth

Liverpool construction company George Downing Construction (GDC) is celebrating after securing £100 million of project work for 2012.

The firm will carry out the contracting activity on major schemes in Acton, Cambridge and Leeds, which are being developed by Downing, and other independent contracts, marking a 25 per cent increase in project work compared to last year.

In 2011, the firm grew to a turnover of £40,496,000 in 2011, marking an impressive 59 per cent increase in turnover compared to an average of £25.5 million for the last 3 years, after completing works on major projects across the north.

GDC will deliver building works on Downing’s £65 million scheme in Cambridge, which comprises three new buildings housing 586 student bedrooms on the south east section of the CB1 development.

It has also been appointed as contractor to a £25 million student accommodation in Acton, London, which is being developed by Downing. Work on the 80,000sq ft scheme which will deliver 184 studio apartments, will begin in May 2012 for completion in September 2013. GDC is also the contractor on Phase 2 of Leeds Central Village and Downing’s proposed South Lambert Road student accommodation scheme.

GDC was launched in 2001 as the construction arm of Downing and has carried out the construction and fit out works on some of the commercial property group’s flagship schemes, including the award winning Broadcasting Place in Leeds and Downing Plaza in Newcastle.

It operates as an independent main contractor and in 2011 has completed works including the final phases of its landmark fit-out project for UK Border Agency in The Capital on Old Hall Street Liverpool. The bespoke works, which was GDC’s latest direct contract outside of the Downing organisation, took place across the building’s thirteen floors with a total area of 220,000 sq ft remodelled and fitted out.
The firm has also secured the prestigious National Quality Assurance ISO9001 accreditation. The scheme recognises best practice in management systems, from the tendering stage to post-handover.

Ian Orton, director of GDC, said: “Last year was a real landmark for GDC, completing some major works and establishing ourselves as a national contractor.

“We’re looking to build on this throughout 2012 and secure more direct contracts, alongside our Downing-led activity which will take us into the London and Home Counties areas, which should see us set for a very busy year. The ISO9001 accreditation is a real marker for quality in practice and this will give us a big boost when applying for tenders and contracts.”

For more information please visit www.georgedowningconstruction.com