Material boost as Thames Materials join Holcim family

01 December, 2025

Last year Thames Materials recycled 340,000 tonnes of CDM for sale into the secondary aggregates market using state-of-the-art processing and wash plant equipment

Holcim UK expand London sustainable construction recycling footprint with latest acquisition deal

HOLCIM UK have strengthened their position in London’s recycling and construction demolition materials (CDM) market with the acquisition of Thames Materials Limited. This move marks a major step forward in Holcim’s growth strategy and circular economy ambitions.

Founded in 1995, Thames Materials have grown into one of the English capital’s leading independent waste-management specialists. The company employs 90 people and operates a 62-vehicle fleet from its Uxbridge headquarters, with recycling activities centred on a 12-acre Harefield site. The facility recently increased its permitted annual capacity to 750,000 tonnes, underlining its importance in managing the region’s construction waste.

In 2024 alone, the business received over 400,000 tonnes of material, recovering 340,000 tonnes as high-quality secondary aggregates thanks to the use of advanced processing and wash plant technologies.

For materials with limited reuse potential, Thames Materials support local land restoration schemes – a practice that helps keep landfill rates exceptionally low. With just 5% of material ending up in landfill, the acquisition further reinforces Holcim UK’s commitment to reducing waste, maximizing resource recovery, and driving circular construction across the country.

Lee Sleight, CEO of Holcim UK, said: ‘I am very pleased to announce the acquisition of Thames Materials and feel that it’s exciting for them to be joining Holcim. It strengthens our footprint in the London construction market and aligns with our ambition of making sustainable construction a reality as we work towards becoming the leading UK provider of sustainable solutions.

‘Thames also has a great synergy with our existing recycling and construction demolition materials business in the East of London, and the acquisition will allow us to develop our services and reach to support the move to a more circular economy – especially with the need for greater use of recycled or reused materials in projects within the capital. By 2030, we have set ourselves a target to process 6.5 million tonnes of CDM annually.’

Martin Clarke, managing director of Thames Materials, commented: ‘We’re really looking forward to taking the business forward with Holcim UK and harnessing their expertise and networks. This move allows us to continue our growth trajectory and expand both our capacity and our offering. Holcim is a market leader in the UK and internationally with a clearly articulated vision for circularity and sustainability, and we are excited to be a part of that.’