Lumsden & Carroll celebrates record order book as housing market boom continues

Lumsden & Carroll has navigated the impact of the pandemic and emerged into 2021 in its strongest ever position.

Lumsden & Carroll celebrated its 50th anniversary in the year which saw its turnover reduced by a quarter due to the impact of the pandemic. However, the civil engineering contractor has revealed it has entered 2021 with a record forward order book.

The North of England firm is the housing infrastructure division of Esh Group and specialises in the delivery of roads and sewers construction, plot works, attenuation systems and Section 278 works.

Working for a range of the UK’s leading national housebuilders, the contractor is well placed to capitalise on the increased demand for new homes as the housing market continues to surge.

Lumsden & Carroll Divisional Director, Jonathan Chambers, said: “Managing to secure a record forward order book in our 50 years in business, while weathering the impact of two national lockdowns, is a huge achievement for us. Operations were impacted by the shutdown period, which commenced late March 2020, and ultimately resulted in turnover reducing by a quarter. Yet, the buoyancy of the UK housing market coupled with strong contract award wins has allowed us to recover well as we settle into the new year.

“Whilst we are grateful that construction was able to continue throughout the second, and now the third national lockdown, we understand that there is no room to become complacent and continue to adhere to COVID-19 working procedures across our sites and in our offices. As we look forward to a successful 2021 and beyond, we would like to thank our clients, suppliers, sub-contractors, and workforce for their unwavering support, which has been a major factor in us emerging from the early impacts of the pandemic.”

Delivering throughout the North East, Tees Valley, and Yorkshire, Lumsden & Carroll is currently operating on over 25 sites. Recent years has seen the contractor invest in its vehicle fleet and it now boasts a 36-strong fleet of tipper wagons, grab wagons and excavators ranging from 14 tonnes to 38 tonnes.

The end of 2020 saw Lumsden & Carroll mark 50 years in business since the company was founded by Jack Lumsden and Tony Carroll in the County Durham ex-colliery village, Esh Winning. Lumsden & Carroll went on to become the founding company of Esh Group in 1999 and its delivery of housing infrastructure is an integral part of the leading civil engineering and built environment group.

The contractor is committed to employing a local workforce and procuring local supply – a community-focussed culture built by Lumsden & Carroll’s founders – and as live schemes increase, continues to strengthen its local workforce across its operational areas.

Managing to secure a record forward order book in our 50 years in business, while weathering the impact of two national lockdowns, is a huge achievement for us. Operations were impacted by the shutdown period, which commenced late March 2020, and ultimately resulted in turnover reducing by a quarter. Yet, the buoyancy of the UK housing market coupled with strong contract award wins has allowed us to recover well as we settle into the new year.”

Divisional Director at Lumsden & Carroll, Jonathan Chambers