CONSTRUCTION and maintenance group Morgan Sindall said its forward orders and development pipeline have grown since the start of its financial year.

Its annual meeting in London later today will hear a positive update from the firm which has a regional construction office on Liverpool’s Wavertree Technology Park, an affordable housing operation in its Lovell offices in Birkenhead, and design functions in Warrington.

Shareholders will hear that the group has made a positive start to the year and is on track to meet expectations.

It will reveal a strong cash position and an increase in forward orders from £3.6bn to £3.8bn, while the development pipeline has shown a £350m improvement to £1.8bn.

Construction and infrastructure are trading in line with expectations and the order book is level with the comparative period last year.

Affordable housing has seen a slight improvement in market conditions for open market housing compared with the second half of 2010 and its order book has increased slightly since the start of the year.

However, the fit-out division is operating in a competitive market and has experienced a slight fall in forward orders compared with the start of the previous year.

The board will tell shareholders later today: “With the strategic progress made last year, our enhanced divisional capabilities and broad sector spread, we remain well positioned to make the most of opportunities in growing sectors of our markets and are well placed to face the challenges that lie ahead.”