The firm said that it had already secured 97% of the targeted turnover for this year, at an average project value at £120m.

But managing director Patrick Byrne warned that current margins would be under pressure from inflation and remedial works.

“There is a planned further increase in overheads to support increased trading activities after which the company is expecting a healthy profit after tax,” he added.

Predicted growth this year follows a sharp rebound in 2021 as turnover leapt nearly 50% to £404m in the year to September.

Byrne said this steep output growth had been tempered by the challenges of another Covid impacted year, material inflation and labour shortages.

He said of the four projects expected to complete last financial year, two finished as expected, a third finished just after the year end and the other drifted into 2022.

Despite the challenges, overall Ardmore Construction reported pre-tax profit up 70% to £12.6m with margin edging up from 2.5% to 3%.

Cash remained stable at £42m over last year.