Galliford Try’s Linden Homes posted a near-20% operating margin in the year to the end of June, level with 2018, after completing more than 3,000 homes.

The contractor said the housebuilding operation, which it is looking to sell to Bovis together with its partnerships and regeneration arm in a £1.1bn deal, delivered £820m in turnover, down by 13%, and £161m in operating profit, similarly down by 13%.