Draft:Luddon
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| Type | Private limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Civil engineering, Construction |
| Founded | June 17, 1975 |
| Founder | Marshall Dougall |
Key people | Barclay Dougall (Chairman) |
Number of employees | 550+ |
| Website | luddon |
Luddon Construction is a Scottish civil engineering and construction company headquartered in Glasgow. Founded in 1975, it operates across infrastructure, surfacing, building and drainage sectors throughout Scotland and the wider United Kingdom. As of 2024, the company had an annual turnover of approximately £157 million and employed over 550 people.[1]
History
[edit]Luddon Construction was founded on 17 June 1975 by Marshall Dougall, a civil engineer who had previously worked on major road projects including the Hamilton bypass and the southern approaches to the Kingston Bridge in Glasgow, during his time working for major UK contractor Costain.[2]
The company name was taken from an off-the-shelf registered company name, chosen when Dougall needed to incorporate quickly after winning a subcontract on the M8 from main contractor Fairclough. Dougall later recalled that Luddon was chosen as the least objectionable of three names available at short notice from the Edinburgh registration office.[2]
Luddon Construction initially operated from a single Land Rover, later supplemented by a Transit van. The company moved to its current base on Balmore Road in north Glasgow in 1982. It expanded through two acquisitions: Denny-based fencing and crash barrier contractor James Strang in 1987, and Kirkcaldy-based road surfacing specialist R Lindsay & Company in 1991, the latter extending Luddon's reach into east Scotland.[2] By the mid-1990s the company had a turnover of approximately £20 million and a workforce of around 300.[2]
In 2011, Companies House accounts showed Luddon's pre-tax profit rose 40 per cent to £418,000, achieved through cost reduction despite a fall in turnover during the economic downturn.[3]
By 2024, turnover had grown to approximately £157 million for the year ending 31 August 2024, an increase of 8.9 per cent on the previous year.[4] The company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025.[5]
Operations
[edit]Luddon Construction operates across five main service areas: civil engineering, building, surfacing, drainage, and small works. It serves both public and private sector clients across Scotland and the wider United Kingdom, with its head office at Balmore House, 1497 Balmore Road, Glasgow.
In 2024, Luddon was appointed to SP Energy Networks' £5.4 billion RIIO-T2 Transmission Major Projects framework, supporting critical electricity transmission infrastructure across central and southern Scotland.[6]
The company has carried out public realm and infrastructure works for a range of Scottish local authorities and regeneration bodies, including a £1 million community greenspace project in the East End of Glasgow for Clyde Gateway.[7]
Notable projects
[edit]- Highland Spring rail freight facility (2019–21) — Luddon constructed a new
rail freight facility at Blackford, adjacent to the Highland Spring bottling plant, described at the time as the first new rail freight facility in Scotland for more than ten years. The facility, operated by JG Russell Transport, was designed to remove approximately 8,000 truck movements per year from Scottish roads.[8]
- Topgolf Glasgow (2022) — Luddon constructed Scotland's first Topgolf
facility, a 45,000 sq ft three-storey venue at the Two 74 development in Rutherglen, on behalf of developer Ashfield Land. The venue opened on 16 December 2022, creating 300 jobs.[9][10]
- Glasgow Science Centre public realm (2021) — Luddon carried out the £4.2
million Connect: Outer Space project at Glasgow Science Centre, redesigning the centre's external spaces along the Clyde waterfront. Designed by Austin-Smith:Lord architects and funded by the UK Research and Innovation Inspiring Science Fund and Sustrans Scotland, the project increased greenspace by 35% and created a new two-way cycle lane. It was shortlisted for a Scottish Design Award in the Public Realm/Landscaping category and a Scottish Civil Engineering Award.[11]
- Stirling railway station redevelopment (2022–23) — Luddon carried out a £5
million redevelopment of the public realm at Stirling railway station, funded by the Scottish Government through Sustrans, Stirling Council, Network Rail Scotland and Serco Group. Works included a new pedestrianised plaza, removal of the Goosecroft Road roundabout, and covered cycle parking for 150 bicycles. The redevelopment was officially opened on 27 June 2023 by Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Transport.[12][13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Luddon Construction Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d "They're Kings of the Road". The Herald. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Cost-cutting pays off for Scots construction firms". The Scotsman. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Luddon turnover up despite staffing challenges". Construction News. 27 May 2025. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "From the Ground Up newsletter". Luddon Construction. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Luddon Construction secures role in SP Energy Networks framework". Luddon Construction. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "£1 million Clyde Gateway investment will create Glasgow community park". The Scotsman. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Highland Spring has the bottle to invest in rail freight". The Scotsman. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Opening date announced for Topgolf Glasgow at Two74". Ashfield Land. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Topgolf moves a step closer to Glasgow launch". Scottish Enterprise. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Glasgow Science Centre Outer Space project". Scottish Design Awards. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Stirling station redevelopment officially opened". Stirling Council. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Official opening of Stirling station redevelopment". Rail Business Daily. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
External links
[edit]Category:Construction and civil engineering companies of Scotland Category:Construction and civil engineering companies of the United Kingdom Category:Companies based in Glasgow Category:Companies established in 1975