A BUILDING firm has its sights set on steady expansion, after a buy-out.

Randall Orchard Construction, in Richmond, has been sold to Graeme Newton for an undisclosed sum.

The group, based on the Gallowfields Trading Estate in Mercury Road, builds and renovates residential property, mainly in rural North Yorkshire and has an annual turnover of £10m.

It specialises in barn conversions and has a long standing relationship with a national developer, carrying out contract work building medical centres.

Mr Newton, who has worked at the firm for the past 18 years, said: "The company has seen substantial growth over the past two to three years.

"My strategy is to ensure that the business grows at a steady rate and maintains its position in our core markets."

The group is presently working on seven residential sites, and six medical centres.

It is also bidding for the contract to build two medical centres in Scarborough.

It has already built six medical centres, including those in the villages of Leyburn, Colburn and Aldbrough St John.

"We are a locally based company and are focused on keeping our position in this niche market," said Mr Newton.

"Although the market may stabilise in the short term, there is little prospect of decline and we predict a steady growth in our market in North Yorkshire.

"We will develop our contracting business across the North as well as maintaining our strong local connections."

The business was started by Randall Orchard in 1976. Mr Orchard intends to remain involved with it for the next 18 months, before fully retiring.

"Randall is in his early sixties now and wanted a suitable way out," said Mr Newton.

"He has a lot of loyalty to the men that work for him and the town and didn't want to sell to somebody who would get rid of the staff and just keep the assets.

"We had been talking about this for five or six years. It was just a question of how we could reach a deal."

Mr Newton, who lives in Colburn, was assisted on the deal by Darlington-based solicitors, Close Thornton and Mitchell Gordon Accountants.