Contractor Kier has expanded its housing division by acquiring south Lincolnshire-based housebuilder Tudor Homes for £15.4m.
Kier subsidiary Allison Homes Eastern bought the business' land and work-in-progress developments.

Tudor has 350 plots of land with planning consent and a further 75 strategic plots in south Lincolnshire and north Cambridgeshire. The land will be integrated with Allison Homes' operations under its current management team.

Kier chief executive John Dodds said: "The acquisition of the assets of Tudor Homes continues our strategy of seeking growth in housing by acquisition of private housebuilders at asset value."

Dodds added: "It provides an infill to Kier's current housing operations, widening and enhancing Allison Homes' area of activity."

In Tudor Homes' last annual report, approved in November, for the 12 months to 30 June 2002, pre-tax profit was £707,000. The average number of employees in any given month was six, half of whom were management and administrative staff.

Kier has announced that it will unveil its interim results for the six months to 31 December on 22 March.