A planning row has broken out in Tralee over plans for a major extension of a retail park on the outskirts of the town.

Shares have soared over 10% in the Grafton Group, which is considered the ultimate Brexit bellwether stock because it owns building merchants in the UK, Ireland, and on the continent.

Shares in Irish building products provider Grafton Group fell 3.5% after it said it has begun to see a weakening in its core UK market.

The efficient use of energy is one of the core tenets of sustainability as a way of life, and in a recent column I highlighted the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) grants available from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

Shares in builders merchanting and DIY group Grafton surged nearly 8% on the back of latest revenue figures showing the group is defying the drop in consumer confidence in its core market of the UK.

Shares in building suppliers Grafton Group have risen over 1.25% after it said it had bought London specialist decorators’ merchant firm Leyland.

The boss of the Grafton Group has said he expects construction in both Ireland and the UK to grow, as the building supplies giant reported a 9% rise in revenue and a 16% rise in pre-tax profits in the six months until the end of June.

Shares in Grafton have risen 1% in London as the Woodie’s and international merchants group reassured about the outlook for its UK operations. 

Builders suppliers Grafton Group is planning to expand its presence in Europe.

Grafton Group chief Gavin Slark has said there is nothing in the business’ half-year financial results “suggesting we have medium-term issues”, adding that management sees the uncertainty around Brexit being a short-term threat.

All around the country there are people undertaking the task of planning and building their dream homes. Consumer advice columnist Gráinne McGuinness sets out some potential pitfalls.

Michael Chadwick is to leave Grafton Group — the Dublin-based international builders merchanting business he led for nearly 30 years — at the end of this year.

Builders’ merchants group, Grafton has seen a marked recovery in its Irish operations, with revenue here up by 14.7%, year-on-year, on a constant currency basis in the six months to the end of June.

Grafton, the Dublin-headquartered builders merchanting and DIY retail group, is actively reviewing opportunities to expand its operational presence in western Europe.

Builders’ merchants group Grafton expects its Irish operations to contribute significantly to its overall growth in the coming three-to-five years.

Grafton Group has reported an 11.3% annualised increase in first-half revenue to just over £1bn (€1.26bn); buoyed by growing economic momentum in its core geographical markets of Britain and Ireland.

Builders’ merchants group Grafton has expanded its asset base in Britain, through the acquisition for an undisclosed fee of English timber merchant Beaumont Forest Products.

Grafton Group has agreed a £460m (€565m) five-year credit facility with its main lenders, which is expected to see it benefit from around £3m in annualised savings.

Improvements in general economic conditions and consumer sentiment boosted performance at building materials and DIY specialist, Grafton Group last year, with overall revenues rising 8% to £1.9bn (€2.3bn).

Grafton Group has reported a 7.4% year-on-year increase in revenue for the first 10 months of this year, supported by improved trading conditions in its main geographical markets.

Building materials and DIY group Grafton said it is willing to make “a very significant contribution” in order to lower its near €280m pension deficit.

French building materials group Saint Gobain is tipped to boost its Irish presence through a takeover of Tubs and Tiles owner, BHT Group.

Grafton Group has been identified as a possible buyer of ailing Tubs and Tiles owner BHT Group.

Grafton Group is targeting a further operating profit increase and “modest” turnover growth this year, but has warned that cost cutting measures could result in some job losses.

Changing out knobs and handles can give a kitchen a surprising lift. Woodie’s DIY, Homevalue Hardware, B&Q and other large DIY outlets have a wide selection.

Want to give someone a DIY kit as a gift for Christmas? Kya deLongchamp provides some practical advice

Putting a little sparkle into your tired looking home need not cost you the earth, writes Kya deLongchamps

Putting a little sparkle into your tired looking home need not cost you the earth, writes Kya deLongchamps

The holidays are an excuse to turn a blind eye to waste and expense. But Kya deLongchamps says frugality can be fun.

DIY and building supplies firm, Grafton, which owns the Woodie’s brand, said the economic environment in Ireland is likely to make trading conditions challenging for some time ahead.

SHARES in builders’ merchanting group Grafton dropped by nearly 8.7% yesterday on the back of the company saying that recovery in its key markets remains slow.

OLIVE LOUGHNANE (Loughrea AC) had to settle for the silver medal in the 20km event at yesterday’s Athletics Ireland International Grand Prix of Race Walking in the Phoenix Park.

MARIAN HEFFERNAN has been added to the Irish team for next week’s European indoor championships in Paris.

BUILDERS providers and DIY merchants, Grafton Group, have reported sales were marginally ahead up to the end of October 2010.

World Indoors hurdles champion Derval O’Rourke has pulled out of the Woodie’s DIY Irish Indoor Athletic Championships at the Odyssey Arena Belfast this weekend.

Woodie's DIY has opened its 25th Irish store in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, the company's second outlet in the town.

AROUND €140 million was wiped off the value of the Grafton group yesterday as its shares tumbled 7% after a major British rival warned of a slowdown in the building materials market.

SHARES in Grafton Group slid 4% yesterday after the building materials specialist reported strong first-half results but warned it would let 150 staff go in Britain to cope with a slowdown there.

WOODIE’S DIY and Garden Centres yesterday announced a E10 million investment programme involving the creation of 200 jobs.

Builders merchants Grafton - who have received approval to purchanse rival Heitons - have said trading in both Ireland and the UK is in line with their expectations.