The wealth of construction鈥檚 richest personalities has risen by a third over the past 12 months despite the downturn

The Sunday Times Rich List of the UK鈥檚 wealthiest 1,000 people revealed construction鈥檚 best rewarded individuals became 拢1.5bn richer last year, with their collective wealth rising from 拢4.5bn to 拢6bn. However, the 36 contractors, housebuilders and material merchants who made the list are still less wealthy than before the credit crunch (see graph).

One analyst said: 鈥淭he increase comes on the back of a big fall the previous year, so they鈥檙e simply working their way back to where they were. Their portfolios have been boosted by the FTSE 100 and Dow Jones rising about 60-80% since last March.鈥�

The industry鈥檚 biggest climber was Keith Miller, head of the contractor and housebuilder Miller Group, whose wealth rose to 拢385m (2009: 拢180m), making him the 175th richest person in the UK. The top construction boss was new entry Shwan Al-Mulla, who came 132nd with 拢500m.

Al-Mulla is president of the Iraqi Consultants and Construction Bureau, which has been doing rebuilding work in Iraq.

Another unfamiliar name was Lawrence Tomlinson, who set up Leeds-based LNT Construction in 1990. The firm, part of the larger LNT Group, builds elderly care homes in northern England. Tomlinson was placed 168th after his wealth rose 拢100m to 拢400m.

Other entrants on the list included Andrew Wates (287), who retired as chair of Wates Group in 2006 and became 拢105m richer, with 拢220m. The McAlpine family鈥檚 (300) wealth rose from 拢95m to 拢210m, while the Shepherd family (309) rose from 拢170m to 拢200m. Steve Morgan (190) stayed static on 拢350m, dropping 44 places, and Ray O鈥橰ourke (281), who stayed on 拢230m, fell 38 places.

Lord Foster (394) dropped by 拢2m to 拢168m, following a donation to Yale University鈥檚 School of Architecture, and David Mabey (329) of Mabey & Johnson dropped 拢4m to 拢196m after his firm was fined last year for breaching UN sanctions in Iraq.

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