Redland plc
Redland plc was a British building-materials group known especially for roofing products, bricks, plasterboard and international construction-materials operations.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Redland plc was a major British building-materials company whose origins lay in concrete roof-tile manufacturing. The business developed from the Redhill Tile Company, established in 1919, and later became one of the United Kingdom’s prominent suppliers of roofing materials, bricks, plasterboard and related construction products. It was also an international investment and operating group, with interests in continental Europe, Australia and the United States. The company adopted the name Redland Tiles in 1946 and began a period of geographic and product expansion. In 1954 it acquired a minority interest in Braas, a German building-materials business. Braas became strategically important to the group and was reported to contribute almost half of Redland’s profits by 1991. Redland also entered Australia in 1969 through a significant shareholding in Monier Ltd. In the United Kingdom, the company expanded its brickmaking activities, including control of Bursledon Brickworks in Hampshire from 1959 until 1974. Plasterboard became another substantial activity. Before 1990, Redland operated this business through a 51-percent joint venture with Australia’s CSR Limited. The venture included operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Sweden, with four manufacturing plants in Bristol, Delfzijl, Drammen and Anzin and reported combined capacity of approximately 90 million square metres. In 1990 Redland formed a larger plasterboard joint venture with the French industrial group Lafarge. Redland held 20 percent of the new venture, which became one of Western Europe’s largest plasterboard suppliers. The Redland name continued to be used commercially for the venture in the United Kingdom. Redland pursued an acquisition-led strategy during the early 1990s. Its activities included the purchase of the United States concrete-roof-tile producer Duratile, the acquisition of Schiedel by Braas, and the purchase of Marley’s US roof-tile subsidiary. In 1992 the group acquired British competitor Steetley plc. The transaction substantially increased Redland’s scale but subsequently placed pressure on the group, leading to disposals from the former Steetley operations and later restructuring. Although Redland continued to report positive results in 1994, it reduced its dividend by one-third in 1995 and acknowledged the need to improve financial performance. It began restructuring and considered selling its brickmaking division. In 1996 the brick business was sold to Ibstock. Speculation about a possible breakup continued into 1997, although management denied that a breakup was planned. Later that year Lafarge agreed to acquire Redland for £1.8 billion, bringing the independent listed company to an end. The Redland name did not disappear entirely after the acquisition. Lafarge subsequently divested its roofing division in 2008. The roofing business, originally associated with Monier, restored the Redland brand in the United Kingdom and was later known as Monier Redland Limited. From 2017, the business operated under the name BMI Redland as part of the BMI Group. Thus, Redland plc is best understood as the former corporate group, while Redland remains a legacy and commercial brand in the UK roofing market.
History
Redland plc traced its origins to the Redhill Tile Company, a concrete-tile manufacturer founded in 1919. The company changed its name to Redland Tiles in 1946 and subsequently expanded beyond its original UK roofing base. In 1954 it acquired a minority interest in Braas, a building-materials company based in Germany. Redland was admitted to the London Stock Exchange in 1955, establishing the public-company structure through which it later developed into a sizeable construction-materials group. The group continued to build its UK manufacturing presence during the post-war period. In 1959 it acquired the Bursledon Brickworks site near Southampton and retained control until the operation ceased to exist in 1974. Redland also expanded internationally, entering Australia in 1969 through a significant shareholding in Monier Ltd. Its business portfolio increasingly included products beyond roof tiles, particularly bricks and plasterboard. Before 1990, Redland’s plasterboard activities were conducted through a 51-percent joint venture with CSR Limited of Australia. The operation included Redland Plasterboard UK and Ireland, Escogypse and Salsi in France, and Orebro paper in Sweden. Four plants, located in Bristol, Delfzijl, Drammen and Anzin, had combined stated capacity of about 90 million square metres. In July 1990, Redland and Lafarge established a larger plasterboard joint venture. Redland owned 20 percent, and the venture became the second-largest supplier in Western Europe at the time. The Redland trade name continued to be used for the venture’s UK activity, while the partners pursued additional UK capacity and expanded the Bristol plant. Redland’s early-1990s strategy emphasized acquisitions. In 1990 its US subsidiary acquired Duratile, a concrete roof-tile producer. Later that year Braas acquired Schiedel, a producer of prefabricated chimney systems. In 1991 Redland acquired Marley’s US roof-tile subsidiary. The same period saw Braas become an especially important contributor to group earnings. Redland financed part of its expansion through a £280 million rights issue in 1991. In early 1992 Redland acquired Steetley plc, one of its important British competitors. The £1 billion transaction increased the group’s scale but proved financially difficult. Redland began disposing of parts of the former Steetley business less than a year after completion. The group still reported results above market expectations in 1994, but by April 1995 it had cut its dividend by one-third and acknowledged that its financial performance required attention. Restructuring followed, together with consideration of a sale of the brickmaking division. In 1996 Redland sold its brick business to Ibstock for £160 million. Speculation that the group might be broken up intensified in early 1997, although senior management rejected that possibility. In October 1997 Lafarge acquired Redland for £1.8 billion. The transaction ended Redland’s existence as an independent listed building-materials group. The Redland name survived in a narrower form through Lafarge’s roofing activities. Lafarge divested the roofing division in 2008. The business, initially associated with Monier, reintroduced the Redland brand in the United Kingdom and later operated as Monier Redland Limited within the Monier group. From 2017 it was known as BMI Redland. This later brand continuity should be distinguished from Redland plc itself, which was absorbed into Lafarge in 1997.
- 2017
UK roofing business became BMI Redland
[1]The surviving UK roofing operation adopted the BMI Redland name within BMI Group.
- 1997
Acquired by Lafarge
[1]Lafarge acquired Redland for £1.8 billion, ending the company’s independent corporate existence.
- 1996
Brick business sold to Ibstock
[1]Redland divested its brickmaking business to Ibstock for £160 million.
- 1992
Steetley acquisition
[1]Redland acquired British competitor Steetley plc, a transaction that was later followed by disposals and restructuring.
- 1991
Rights issue and US roofing acquisitions
[1]Redland completed a £280 million rights issue and acquired Marley’s US roof-tile subsidiary; Braas also acquired Schiedel.
- 1990
Lafarge plasterboard joint venture
[1]Redland and Lafarge created a larger Western European plasterboard venture in which Redland held a 20-percent minority interest.
- 1969
Australian expansion
[1]The group entered Australia by acquiring a significant shareholding in Monier Ltd.
- 1955
London Stock Exchange listing
[1]Redland was listed on the London Stock Exchange and later became a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
- 1954
Entry into Germany through Braas investment
[1]Redland acquired a minority interest in German building-materials company Braas.
- 1946
Name changed to Redland Tiles
[1]The business adopted the Redland Tiles name as it developed its post-war building-materials operations.
Products and positioning
A large, diversified building-materials group combining UK manufacturing heritage with international roofing, brick, plasterboard and related construction-materials businesses.
Roofing materials · 1919
Roof tiles
Roof tiles were the company’s foundational product category. Redland began as a concrete-tile manufacturer and developed a broader roofing portfolio through its own operations and investments in businesses such as Braas and Monier. The Redland name later continued in the UK roofing market through the successor business that became BMI Redland.
Masonry materials
Bricks
Brickmaking became an important part of Redland’s UK building-materials portfolio. The group operated and acquired brickmaking assets, including Bursledon Brickworks and businesses obtained through the Steetley transaction. Redland later sold its brick division to Ibstock in 1996 as part of a restructuring and portfolio-disposal program.
Interior construction materials
Plasterboard
Redland’s plasterboard operations were organized through a joint venture with CSR before being reorganized into a larger partnership with Lafarge in 1990. The business covered manufacturing and sales activities in several Western European countries and operated plants in the UK, the Netherlands, Norway and France. The Redland name was used commercially for the UK venture.
Building components · 1990
Prefabricated chimney systems
Prefabricated chimney systems entered the wider Redland portfolio through Braas’s acquisition of Schiedel in 1990. The product line complemented the group’s roofing and broader building-materials activities.
Brand decisions
1997
Acquisition by LafargeM&ABackground
After restructuring, asset disposals and speculation about a possible breakup, Redland became the subject of a takeover by Lafarge.
Action taken
Lafarge acquired Redland plc.
Aftermath
Redland ceased to operate as an independent listed group, while parts of its roofing heritage continued through successor businesses.
Acquisition consideration. £1.8 billion (1997)
1996
Sale of brick business to IbstockM&ABackground
Redland was restructuring after the difficult integration of Steetley and was reviewing non-core or underperforming activities.
Action taken
The company sold its brick business to Ibstock.
Aftermath
The disposal reduced Redland’s exposure to brickmaking before the group was acquired by Lafarge the following year.
Divestiture proceeds. £160 million (1996)
1995
Restructuring and review of brick operationsStrategyBackground
Despite positive reported results in 1994, Redland reduced its dividend and acknowledged pressure on financial performance.
Action taken
The company began restructuring and considered strategic options, including the sale of its brickmaking division.
Aftermath
The brick business was sold to Ibstock in 1996.
1992
Acquisition of SteetleyM&ABackground
Redland pursued scale in the British building-materials market through the acquisition of a major domestic competitor.
Action taken
Redland acquired Steetley plc.
Aftermath
The transaction became costly for Redland, and portions of the former Steetley business were sold less than a year later.
Acquisition consideration. £1 billion (1992)
1990
Formation of Lafarge plasterboard joint ventureM&ABackground
Redland sought a larger and more competitive structure for its plasterboard operations in Western Europe.
Action taken
Redland formed a new joint venture with Lafarge and retained a 20-percent minority interest. The Redland trade name remained in use in the UK market.
Aftermath
The venture became one of Western Europe’s largest plasterboard suppliers and pursued additional UK production capacity.
Sources1 sources
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