Rochdale builder sells firm for millions

A Rochdale builder, who has been in the industry for 25 years, sold his company this week for more than £40 million.

Alan Richardson founded Richardson Projects with his wife Pat at a cost of virtually nothing on Drake Street in 1983. He started out with just two bricklayers but the company has grown to now become a multi-million pound firm.

The couple sold their 97% stake to building services group ROK for £42.75million.

The building contractor and regeneration developer has been working out of Rochdale since he started business. The company moved to larger premises at Milnrow Road in 1988 and then in 1996 Sir Cyril Smith MBE opened a new purpose built head office on Oldham Road. The head office has been on Bridgefold Road in Spotland since August 2004.

65-year-old Mr Richardson started work at 15 as an apprentice joiner. He worked his way through the trade to become a regional director of construction company AMEC before going it alone in 1983.

Date article online: 10/04/2008