Scottish-based Barr Construction is being brought under the McLaughlin & Harvey banner to form one UK-wide operator with a combined turnover in excess of £400 million and real potential to create new jobs within the expanded operation.

Northern Ireland-headquartered McLaughlin & Harvey completed the acquisition of Barr Holdings in 2007.

Philip Cheevers, chairman of Barr Holdings Ltd and managing director of McLaughlin & Harvey said: “We have been part of one group for 7 years already, so it makes sense to bring Barr Construction and McLaughlin & Harvey together.

“This is a positive move which allows us to bring all of the expertise of the wider group under the same umbrella.

“By working together, the combined McLaughlin & Harvey will be in a strong position to create jobs, attract the best talent in the industry and compete for larger contracts and projects we cannot currently approach independently.

“After a few difficult years as a result of the global economic situation, the sector as a whole appears to be on the road to recovery and our ambition, in integrating Barr Construction and McLaughlin & Harvey, is to jointly create a much more significant force in the UK construction industry.”

Rebranding the whole construction division under the McLaughlin & Harvey name will have no negative impact on job numbers and both the management team and Barr’s current Paisley HQ will remain as at present.

The Barr Environmental waste management division is unaffected.

The move follows the sale by the Barr group of the Barr Quarries operation to Breedon Aggregates for £20.8 million earlier this year.

The migration to the McLaughlin & Harvey brand is expected to take place early in 2015.