It is the firm’s first external acquisition after almost 50 years of consistent organic growth, taking its total number of concrete plants from two to six.

New facilities at Tunbridge Wells, Sittingbourne, Margate and Dover join existing group operations at Maidstone and Ashford to give full coverage across Kent.

Sean Connor, Managing Director of Gallagher Aggregates, said: “For some years, our ready-mix concrete customers have been asking us to spread our net wider.

“These new acquisitions let us to do just that. We’re more than doubling our concrete production capacity.

“We’re investing significant sums in upgrading these sites, as well as adding to our mixer fleet and taking on additional staff.”