Building firm Bluestone has played a major part in boosting the fortunes of its parent company Morgan Sindall, new figures have revealed.

Bluestone's revenues rose to £343m for 2006, up from £336m the previous year.

Since the beginning of 2006, the office in Milton Park has secured new contracts and frameworks in the area worth more than £23.6m.

Key construction projects include a £1.8m extension to the engineering block for Oxford Brookes University on its Wheatley campus; a £4.3m contract to build a new printing facility for the Alden Group in Witney and a £3.3m contract for industrial accommodation for St Modwen in Guildford, Surrey.

Bluestone has also been appointed one of ten framework contractors working with the South East Centre of Excellence to deliver a range of building projects for an expected 74 local authorities in the region.

The four-year, multi-million pound framework arrangement could include schools, civic offices, sport and leisure facilities and care homes.

Bluestone area director Adrian Harper (pictured) said: "Our prospects are good for the year ahead with the company set to benefit from a buoyant education market, long-term public sector construction frameworks and a reviving commercial and industrial sector which is being driven by business confidence and occupier demand for office accommodation.

"We are also seeing healthcare schemes starting to emerge, suggesting a resurgence of construction activity in this sector."