AIM-listed British construction materials company Breedon Group plans to invest £5 million to build a new concrete tile plant at its Lisburn operation next year.
It will replace the existing facility originally built by the Lagan Group in 1995, and comes in response to soaring demand for tiles for the housing market in both Ireland and Britain.
The new plant will come on stream in mid- to late-2023 and will see a doubling in production volumes from 11 million to 22 million tiles per year.
Breedon, which paid £455 million to acquire Lagan Group in 2018, employs more than 3,500 people across the UK and Ireland, with around 250 based in Northern Ireland.
Managing director Jude Lagan said: “This new concrete roof tile plant is a direct and timely response to rising demand and demonstrates Breedon’s confidence in the market going forward, as well as its desire to continue working closely with builders’ merchants and roofing specialists to give them the products they require.”
He added: “It will also enable the business to offer lower pitch tiles to meet the growing requirement for this type of product.”
The new plant is also seen as important in helping Breedon Group’s drive to net zero, both in terms of the thermal efficiency of Breedon’s products and carbon footprint.
“Once our new roof tile factory is commissioned, we will see a significant reduction of emissions from gas, electricity, and oil,” Jude said.
“There will also be a substantial reduction in packaging per product tonne. The new plant and equipment will also facilitate a major reduction in concrete waste, and any waste that is generated will be recycled through the plant.”
Breedon produces cement, aggregates, asphalt, ready-mixed concrete, Welsh slate and specialist concrete and clay products, and also offers a range of contracting services. It has strong asset backing, with around 1 billion tonnes of mineral reserves and resources.
