Healthcare property group Assura reported nearly a 50 per cent increase in its rent roll to £34.4m in the three months to December 31.

The Daresbury-based company bought competitor AH Medical Properties in February for £28.3m, which itself made an £8m contribution.

It added it had completed eight new developments, valued at £38.7m, since the start of its financial year last April. They will bring in £2.4m of rent each year. Meanwhile, five other schemes are under construction, which had a combined estimated value of £17.8m.

In an interim management statement, Assura said 84 per cent of its rent now comes from the NHS. During the period covered by the statement, the group sold its LIFT consultancy business, in a management buyout led by managing director Elaine Siew and development director David Acklam.

Assura also completed a share issue, which enabled it to raise £35.3m from investors, as well as agreeing £3m of new debt facilities.

Chairman Simon Laffin said: "The transformation of Assura to a well-funded, pure play primary healthcare property company is now complete. 

"We are focused on delivering both a secure and rising income stream and growth in property value.

"The continued strong property performance of the  group reflects the sound fundamentals of this business as well as the attractiveness of the primary healthcare market underpinned by its stable, long-term, government-backed income."

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