Breedon closes on quarries

Construction materials supplier Breedon Aggregates confirmed yesterday that it is buying four quarries from rival Marshalls, along with the option to develop a fifth site.

The group, which built up its presence in Scotland with the £34 million acquisition of a range of assets from rival Aggregate Industries earlier this week, added the sites south of the Border for £19m. It will pay £17.5m in cash up-front, with the remainder subject to conditions.

The latest deal will provide the firm with an additional 13 million tonnes of mineral reserves and resources, with the potential for additional prospects of 5 million tonnes.

It said: “The quarries represent a move into new but contiguous markets for the group.”

Even before this week’s spending spree, Breedon’s Scottish assets included concrete plants in Aviemore, Dunfermline, Inverurie and the Stirlinghill quarry near Peterhead.