Van Elle shuts Thurrock depot as piling losses mount
Summary
Van Elle has closed its Thurrock depot and restructured its London piling operation as delays to residential schemes under the Building Safety Act continue to affect volumes. The company reported a sharp deterioration in profitability, with its General Piling division moving to an operating loss despite higher revenue, and noted rising warranty and defect provisions.
Why it matters
Residential projects delayed by Building Safety Act approvals can affect the timing, availability and pricing of specialist groundworks and piling services. Surveyors involved in residential development, due diligence or defect matters should note the knock-on effects on programme risk, contractor capacity and claims exposure.
Key points
- Van Elle closed its Thurrock depot as part of a cost-cutting restructure in London.
- The company linked reduced residential volumes to delays in Building Safety Act approvals, especially in London.
- General Piling moved from a profit to a £2m operating loss despite revenue growth.
- Warranty and defect claim provisions increased, with two claims still unresolved.
- The group said it was seeing early signs of improvement in the approvals process.
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