Trading Statement re Results to 2 January 2000

Allen PLC
25 February 2000

                      ALLEN PLC ('Allen')
 (Hire Services, Housebuilding, Civil Engineering Contracting,
                     Building Contracting)
                               
               TRADING STATEMENT ON THE RESULTS
                              FOR
                 9 MONTHS ENDED 2 JANUARY 2000

            GROUP ON TARGET FOR ANOTHER RECORD YEAR
                               
    RESULTS EXPECTED TO BE IN LINE WITH MARKET EXPECTATIONS

Allen  Plc,  the diversified construction Group, continues  to
see  strong  growth  in all divisions with encouraging  volume
increases from hire and utility services.

1.   Hire Services

     The continuing strength of our hire services companies is
     reflected in the strong like for like turnover growth  in
     Speedy Hire Centres which increased by 14.1% for the nine
     month  period.  Following the Christmas break  there  has
     been an encouraging return in the level of activity.   We
     have  also negotiated a number of 'partnership' deals  in
     recent months, the largest of which was with Kier Group.
     
     In  the  nine  months, 16 'greenfield' depots  have  been
     opened  and  we are confident that our prediction  of  18
     'greenfields'  for  the year will  be  reached  as  eight
     further depots are already at appraisal stage.  These new
     openings include seven 'Lifting' depots to strengthen our
     position in this niche market.
     
     Speedy  Space now have over 9,000 cabins and  utilisation
     remains at over 90%.

2.   Housebuilding

     The  market is more buoyant than over the similar  period
     last  year  and  completions are some 14% ahead  for  the
     first  nine months.  We remain confident that completions
     will be in the region of 525 for the full year.

     Current indications are that our average house price will
     be  in the region of £79,000 for the year, an increase of
     4% on 1998/99.
     
     The sale of a site in Lymm, Cheshire in December will, as
     previously  announced,  contribute  some  £7  million  in
     exceptional  profit in the year which is a  testament  to
     the land buying skills in Allen Homes.
     
     Our  prospective landbank currently stands at  1.7  years
     and  we are appraising certain opportunities which should
     lead to an increase in this figure.

3.   Civil Engineering Contracting

     The  division  has  continued its  growth  with  a  sound
     performance by all three companies.
     
     Our  utility  services contractor  Ryan  has  won  awards
     totalling  £165  million  for  work  on  water  and   gas
     infrastructures over the next five years, and whilst this
     is   in   part  replacement  and  extension  to  existing
     contracts,  it  assures our position  in  this  expanding
     market.
     
     Turnover  from our other operations in Pearce  and  Sheet
     Piling (UK) have improved and both companies have healthy
     order books.

4.   Building Contracting

     In line with indications given at the time of our interim
     results  announcement, we continue to expect  improvement
     in  our  second  half  margin on  a  slight  increase  in
     turnover.
     
     We  have  started  Year 2000 with a healthy  order  book.
     Work  in hand is £120 million of which approximately  20%
     results from negotiated or partnered contracts.

Corporate Activity

     In   the   financial  year  so  far  we  have  made   two
     acquisitions  adding  five  depots  to  the  Speedy  Hire
     Centres' network, the larger of these transactions  being
     in  January  this year when we purchased  the  assets  of
     Construction  Instruments  Ltd,  which  now  gives  us  a
     leading position in this specialist field.

Commentary

Donald Greenhalgh, Chairman of Allen, commented:

'The  management  accounts for the first nine  months  clearly
indicate that we are on target to achieve our aim of producing
another set of record results.

'We are continuing to expand our service activities but it  is
particularly  encouraging  that all  divisions  have  reported
strong performances for the period.

'Internal  forecasts  indicate that we  can  look  forward  to
further  growth in our next financial year and I look  forward
to  updating  investors  on our progress  when  we  issue  our
preliminary results on Monday, 26 June.'

For further information contact:

Ken Fox (Chief Executive)                    01204 699277
                                           (8.00 am - 5.00 pm)
Neil O'Brien (Finance Director)              01204 699277
                                           (8.00 am - 5.00 pm)

Brian Coleman-Smith                          020 7786 9600
Binns & Co Public Relations                (7.00 am - 6.00 pm)