Murray & Roberts Western Cape have moved on site to start construction of a R1billion mixed-use development in the Bridgeways precinct in Century City.

Business updates by construction firms show their order books have generally bulked up or remained stable.

Esorfranki on Thursday advised that it is in negotiations to acquire the business of a development company with rights as the "turnkey developer/contractor" for an integrated mixed-use, affordable housing development on approximately 237ha of land

Esorfranki slipped into the red in the year ended February 2011, with a diluted headline loss per share of 12.8c after headline earnings per share of 70.5c a year.

Esorfranki has pointed to an approved capital expenditure of R72m for the 2011 financial year to accommodate future growth 'and to maintain its competitive edge.