Construction projects across the south-east of England will benefit from new operations being opened by leading British cement, concrete and aggregates supplier
On the anniversary of its third year in business Hope has announced advanced plans to open new depots, and extend existing sites, in Dagenham, Southampton, Stratford (East London), Theale (county Berkshire) and Woodham (county Buckinghamshire).
Use of the railway network features heavily in Hope’s plans, with four of the five sites able to receive raw materials (aggregates and cement) by rail. This follows the success of Hope’s new rail-linked cement, aggregates and concrete depot at Walsall, West Midlands, in 2015.
All of the developments are expected to be open for business during the first quarter of 2016.
At Dagenham a new rail-linked cement distribution depot and state-of-the-art packing facility will, for the first time, see Hope’s renowned cement supplied in its own branded bags, while in Southampton a new ready-mix concrete plant and rail-linked aggregates depot will receive concreting aggregate for this site and Hope’s other concrete plants in Hampshire.
A new rail-fed aggregates depot adjacent to the Olympic park, which is the result of a partnership with rail freight operator
Already a rail-linked cement depot, the Theale site is now home to a rail-fed aggregates facility and a ready-mix concrete plant supplying both materials to the town of Reading market., while at Woodham, between Aylesbury and Bicester, Hope’s depot will supply ready-mix concrete across north Buckinghamshire.
Located in the Hope Valley, in the Derbyshire Peak District, Hope cement works originally opened more than 80 years ago and has played a major role in UK cement production ever since. Today the twin-kiln plant supplies more than 15% of the UK’s cement consumption.
More than two-thirds of Hope’s cement is distributed by rail. Hope also transports much of its aggregate by rail, notably from Dowlow limestone quarry near Buxton.
In the past year alone Hope Construction Materials sold 1.5 million tonnes of cement; 4.7 million tonnes of aggregates, and 2.3 million m³ of concrete.
CEO of Hope Construction Materials Chris Plant said: “Hope has been growing steadily since launch three years ago and these latest depots are the culmination of our strategy to develop our plant network and improve the service we are able to give our customers. Together these developments represent a major investment in the business and their South East locations mean that they are sure to add value in the future.”
Hope Construction Materials is in the process of being acquired by Breedon Aggregates, subject to approval of competition authorities.
The deal, which will create Britain’s leading independent supplier of cement, concrete, aggregates and associated products and services, is expected to complete during 2016. Until then, Hope Construction Materials will continue to operate as a wholly-independent company.
