GALLIFORD Try has said its integration of the Miller Construction business is progressing ahead of expectations.

In a trading update Galliford said its overall construction business has an order book of £3.2 billion, up from £1.75bn at the same point in 2014, after a number of major project wins in the six months to December 31.

It said the enlarged construction division was benefiting from a diverse range of clients with around 20 per cent in the private sector, 59 per cent in the public sector and 21 per cent coming from regulated industries.

Galliford bought the Edinburgh based construction arm of Miller Group in July last year.

In a trading update Galliford, which also owns Morrison Construction in Scotland, said the Miller Construction integration "has proceeded very well and is substantially complete ahead of plan".

Greg Fitzgerald, Galliford's executive chairman, said: "Following the acquisition of Miller Construction our enlarged Construction business is benefiting from an improving market.

"We remain confident in the delivery of our strategy of strong and disciplined growth across all of our businesses."

The housing arm, which mainly trades under the Linden Homes brand, saw completions rise to a net 1,404, up from 1,279.

The average price of a Linden home grew from £291,000 to £310,000 while in the affordable homes sector prices were flat at £121,000.

Galliford said it expected operating margins to have improved year-on-year.

Mr Fitzgerald added: "It has been another strong performance for the Group in the first half of the financial year with our housebuilding and construction businesses both performing in line with our expectations."