Tarmac Group
Tarmac Group was a British construction and building-materials company that grew from road surfacing into aggregates, contracting, housebuilding and heavy building products.
Last updated October 17, 2026
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Overview
Tarmac Group was a British building-materials and construction enterprise headquartered in Wolverhampton. Its origins lay in the commercial exploitation of tarmacadam, a road-surfacing material patented by Edgar Purnell Hooley in the early twentieth century. The company was formed in 1903 as the Tar Macadam (Purnell Hooley's Patent) Syndicate Limited and developed a distinctive business model based partly on using blast-furnace slag, an industrial by-product, in road construction. Long-term supply arrangements with steelworks helped the company secure raw materials while its surfacing operations expanded geographically. The business received important early financial and managerial support from Sir Alfred Hickman, who became its first chairman in 1905. Members of the Hickman and Martin families exercised effective influence for much of the period before 1979. Tarmac was listed on the Birmingham Stock Exchange in 1913 and on the London Stock Exchange in 1922. During the interwar years it broadened its regional coverage, increased production of paving products and developed from a materials supplier into a road-surfacing and contracting business. The Second World War accelerated demand, especially for surfacing military airfields and other infrastructure. By 1953, Tarmac was processing more than two million tons of slag annually, while its road-surfacing activities had become a substantial civil-engineering operation. Under Robin Martin, the group pursued an acquisition-led strategy. Purchases such as Tarslag, Crow Catchpole, Cliffe Hill Granite, Rowley Regis Granite and Hillhead Hughes strengthened its quarrying and roadstone network. In 1968, Tarmac merged with Derbyshire Stone and William Briggs, briefly creating the Tarmac Derby group and establishing what was described as Britain's largest roadstone and construction group. During the 1970s, management redirected the company toward housebuilding and broader contracting. Acquisitions included Permanite, Limmer, Mitchell Construction and McLean Homes. McLean was especially important: by the end of the decade the enlarged housing business was building about 4,000 homes a year, and housebuilding eventually generated roughly half of group profits. Tarmac also expanded outside the United Kingdom, acquiring Lone Star Industries in stages from 1984 and operating in seven US states by the late 1980s. Its construction arm worked on major infrastructure including the Thames Barrier and the Channel Tunnel, while Tarmac International undertook a large port-expansion contract at Aqaba in Jordan. That strategy proved vulnerable in the early-1990s recession. Tarmac had continued to invest heavily in housing land after the market peaked, producing a large provision in the housing division and forcing senior management changes. Under Neville Simms, the group refocused on construction, quarrying and materials. The housing business was scaled back and transferred to Wimpey in a 1995 asset swap in exchange for Wimpey's construction and minerals interests. In 1992, Tarmac acquired the former government projects agency PSA Projects, strengthening its professional-services capability. In July 1999, Tarmac demerged its construction and professional-services businesses as Carillion. The remaining group, centred on roadstone, aggregates and road surfacing, was acquired by Anglo American at the end of 1999. Anglo American subsequently restructured and disposed of businesses, including the sale of Tarmac Iberia and several European concrete and concrete-products operations. In 2010, the group was separated into Tarmac Limited and Tarmac Building Products. In 2013, Tarmac Limited's British aggregates business was combined with Lafarge's UK assets in a 50:50 joint venture, Lafarge Tarmac. In 2014, Tarmac Building Products was sold to Lafarge Tarmac. The historic Tarmac Group therefore ceased to operate as an independent corporate group.
History
Tarmac Group began in 1903 as the Tar Macadam (Purnell Hooley's Patent) Syndicate Limited. Its commercial foundation was a road-surfacing material associated with Edgar Purnell Hooley's patent and made economically attractive by the use of blast-furnace slag. Sir Alfred Hickman became chairman in 1905, and the company developed close connections with the steel industry for the supply of this by-product. The company listed in Birmingham in 1913 and in London in 1922. It survived strikes, recession and strong competition during the 1920s and 1930s by widening its geographic footprint and moving beyond simple material supply into paving, road surfacing and contracting. Wartime demand was particularly important, as the company surfaced military airfields and other facilities. By its fiftieth anniversary, Tarmac was processing over two million tons of slag annually and had developed a substantial civil-engineering business. Its Vinculum subsidiary was also a significant precast-concrete producer. Robin Martin led the transition from a regional roadstone company to a national group. Acquisitions in the late 1950s and 1960s expanded Tarmac's south-eastern presence and added major quarry assets. The 1968 merger with Derbyshire Stone and William Briggs created a major British roadstone and construction group, briefly called Tarmac Derby. The 1970s changed the group's strategic profile. Tarmac bought roofing-materials producer Permanite, asphalt company Limmer, contractor Mitchell Construction and, most decisively, housebuilder McLean Homes. Under Eric Pountain, the housing business expanded rapidly, reaching around 4,000 homes annually by the end of the decade. Tarmac also pursued international construction and materials opportunities. Its North American presence grew through the staged acquisition of Lone Star Industries, and the group worked on projects such as the Thames Barrier, the Channel Tunnel and port facilities in Aqaba. The early-1990s recession exposed the risk of the housing-led strategy. Heavy investment in land produced a substantial provision, management changed, and Neville Simms redirected the group toward construction, minerals and materials. The housing business was ultimately exchanged with Wimpey for construction and minerals assets. Tarmac also acquired PSA Projects in 1992, later developing the professional-services business under the TPS name. In 1999, Tarmac demerged construction and professional services as Carillion. The remaining materials-focused business was acquired by Anglo American, which reorganized its quarrying, asphalt and ready-mixed-concrete operations and later sold several international assets. Tarmac was separated into Tarmac Limited and Tarmac Building Products in 2010. Tarmac Limited's British materials assets were combined with Lafarge's UK operations in 2013, creating Lafarge Tarmac. The remaining Tarmac Building Products business joined that venture in 2014. The original Tarmac Group consequently ended as an independent corporate group, while its name and operating businesses continued through successor entities.
- 2014
Tarmac Building Products transferred to Lafarge Tarmac
[1]The last Tarmac business wholly owned by Anglo American was acquired by Lafarge Tarmac.
- 2013
Lafarge Tarmac formed
[1]Anglo American and Lafarge combined their relevant British assets in a 50:50 joint venture.
- 2010
Business separated into two divisions
[1]The group was divided into Tarmac Limited and Tarmac Building Products.
- 1999
Carillion demerger and Anglo American acquisition
[1]Construction and professional services became Carillion, while the remaining Tarmac business was acquired by Anglo American.
- 1995
Housing operations exchanged with Wimpey
[1]Tarmac transferred its housebuilding activities to Wimpey in exchange for construction and minerals interests.
- 1992
PSA Projects acquired
[1]Tarmac acquired the privatized government projects agency to strengthen its construction and consultancy operations.
- 1974
McLean Homes acquired
[1]The acquisition accelerated Tarmac's move into national housebuilding.
- 1968
Merger creates a leading roadstone group
[1]Tarmac merged with Derbyshire Stone and William Briggs, temporarily becoming Tarmac Derby.
- 1953
Large-scale slag processing and civil engineering
[1]At its half-century, Tarmac was processing more than two million tons of slag annually and had developed major surfacing capabilities.
- 1922
London Stock Exchange listing
[1]The company listed on the London Stock Exchange and later became a constituent of the FTSE 100.
Products and positioning
A vertically integrated British construction and infrastructure group whose historical identity evolved from road surfacing and quarry materials into heavy building products, civil engineering, contracting and housebuilding.
Infrastructure materials · 1903
Road surfacing and asphalt
The original core of Tarmac's business was the manufacture and application of road-surfacing material. Its asphalt and surfacing operations expanded from regional supply into civil engineering, road construction and maintenance contracting, including work on airfields and major infrastructure.
Quarry products
Aggregates and roadstone
Tarmac operated quarries and supplied stone, aggregate and roadstone for roads, buildings and civil-engineering projects. Acquisitions of quarrying assets and regional competitors made aggregates one of the group's principal long-term materials businesses.
Heavy building materials · 2010
Tarmac Building Products
This division supplied aircrete and aggregate blocks, bagged aggregates, mortar, screeds, cement, lime, plasters, renders, grouts, foundry sands, sports surfaces and other specialized products. It also provided bespoke production and contract-manufacturing services.
Construction and civil engineering
Tarmac Construction
Tarmac Construction undertook contracting and civil-engineering work in the United Kingdom and internationally. Its historical project portfolio included infrastructure such as the Thames Barrier and the Channel Tunnel, before the business was demerged into Carillion in 1999.
Residential construction · 1974
Housebuilding
Through its own housing operation and the acquisition of McLean Homes, Tarmac became a major British housebuilder. The division reached roughly 4,000 homes per year by the end of the 1970s and generated a large share of group profits before being exchanged with Wimpey in the mid-1990s.
Brand decisions
2013
Formation of Lafarge TarmacM&ABackground
Anglo American and Lafarge sought to combine overlapping British aggregates and construction-materials operations.
Action taken
The relevant assets were merged into a 50:50 joint venture after competition-authority approval.
Aftermath
The historic Tarmac operating structure was absorbed into Lafarge Tarmac, later known as Tarmac Holdings.
1999
Construction and professional services demerged as CarillionStrategyBackground
Tarmac sought to separate its contracting and consultancy activities from its roadstone and materials operations.
Action taken
The construction and professional-services businesses were demerged under the Carillion name.
Aftermath
The remaining Tarmac business became more concentrated on aggregates, asphalt and related building materials.
1995
Exit from housebuilding through asset swapStrategyBackground
The early-1990s recession exposed the risks of continued land investment and left the housing division under pressure.
Action taken
Tarmac transferred its housing operations to Wimpey and received construction and minerals interests in return.
Aftermath
The transaction reinforced Tarmac's shift toward construction, quarrying and heavy materials.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Tarmac receives Clear Assured Silver Standard[2]
Tarmac was awarded the Clear Assured Silver Standard in recognition of its inclusion and diversity work.
Tarmac achieves Clear Assured Silver Standard[3]
Reported:
Tarmac achieved the Clear Assured Silver Standard accreditation for its inclusion and diversity measures, advancing from the Bronze Standard it achieved the previous year.
Tarmac wins MPA health and safety awards[4]
Reported:
Tarmac won the ‘Safer Through Improvements in Health & Wellbeing’ award for its occupational health and wellbeing learning centre and the ‘Safer Together’ award for its Professional Operator Development Programme.
Tarmac and DB Cargo UK announce renewable fuel for a freight route[5]
Reported:
Tarmac and rail freight partner DB Cargo UK announced that construction-material deliveries on a route between Tarmac’s Mountsorrel site and its Birmingham asphalt plant will be powered entirely by renewable fuel. The partners said hydro-treated vegetable oil will fuel all freight trains on the route.
- Unconfirmed
Tarmac renews partnership with Peak District National Park[6]
Tarmac renewed its partnership with the Peak District National Park through 2026. Under the partnership, Tarmac organizes volunteering and funds a conservation engagement role at the park.
Tarmac and Peak District National Park Authority renew partnership[7]
Reported:
Tarmac and the Peak District National Park Authority committed to continue working together until at least 2026, with Tarmac employees providing volunteer support for the park’s restoration and development.
Tarmac introduces recyclable hybrid bag[8]
Reported:
Tarmac introduced an all-weather, fully recyclable hybrid bag using 50 per cent recycled plastic. Facilities in Scotland and Wales were already producing the new bag, with other sites due to switch in the coming months.
Tarmac announces planned parking charge at Panshanger Park[9]
Reported:
Tarmac said a parking charge would be introduced at Panshanger Park. The final charge had not been decided; Tarmac estimated it would be £2 to £3.
Tarmac teams donate PPE to healthcare providers[10]
Reported:
Tarmac employees across the UK supplied PPE, including masks, gloves and goggles, to hospitals, GP surgeries and care homes.
- Unconfirmed
Tarmac and Port of Tilbury announce materials terminal development plans[11]
Tarmac announced plans with the Port of Tilbury to develop a materials terminal at the Thames’ new Tilbury2 port in Essex. Development was planned to begin in late 2019, with operations to be established before 2021.
Sources11 sources
- 1Tarmac Groupen.wikipedia.org
- 2Tarmac获得Clear Assured银级标准认证hub-4.com
- 3Tarmac获得Clear Assured银级标准认证worldcement.com
- 4Tarmac获得MPA健康与安全奖项worldcement.com
- 5Tarmac 与 DB Cargo UK 宣布在一条货运线路使用可再生燃料hub-4.com
- 6Tarmac renews partnership with Peak District National Parkglobalcement.com
- 7Tarmac与峰区国家公园管理局续签合作worldcement.com
- 8Tarmac推出可回收混合包装袋cemnet.com
- 9Tarmac宣布计划在Panshanger Park收取停车费whtimes.co.uk
- 10Tarmac团队向医疗机构捐赠个人防护用品worldcement.com
- 11Tarmac 与蒂尔伯里港宣布材料码头开发计划globalcement.com
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