Henry Boot about to start work on the redevelopment of the former Terry’s Chocolate factory in York.

The contractor said all the main deals have been done and they are now awaiting confirmation of detailed planning permission before work begins.

As well as announcing their development of the former chocolate factory, Boot also announced their profits had doubled to £13.4m in the first half of 2014.

Chairman of Boot John Brown, said: “Commercial development activity is now at its highest level since 2007 with new, pre-let developments achieving hurdle rates of return, expected to commence in the second half of the year.”

He added: “The combination of this increased level of commercial development, our strategic land sites with well over 10,800 permissioned housing units available for future sale and the solid returns from the construction segment should strongly support growing shareholder returns into 2015 and beyond.”

The Sheffield-based building firm has confirmed terms have now been agred with a specialist residential developer to convert the multi-storey factory into 150 apartments with a deal being struck with a care home company to convert the former headquarters into an assisted living facility.

Brown went on to say: “These developments, and the interest we have from hotel operators for the balance of the site, are all conditional upon securing detailed planning permission but we hope to make substantial progress with this by the year end with a view to commencing activity on site in 2015.”