Barr Construction
Company typePrivate
IndustryConstruction
FoundedLate nineteenth century
HeadquartersPaisley, Scotland, UK
Key people
Bill Barr, (Chairman)
Websitewww.barr-construction.co.uk (Archive)

Barr Construction was a major Scottish contracting organisation operating throughout the United Kingdom.

History

The company started in the late 19th century as a joinery firm known as W & J Barr & Sons and gradually expanded into civil engineering projects. As Barr began to grow its operations out of its native Ayrshire and into larger civil engineering developments, it decided to incorporate in 1976.[1]

The company's stadia work included new facilities for Southampton, Fulham, Celtic, and Rangers football clubs as well as projects for lower league and rugby clubs. Clubs which got into financial difficulty because of mounting debts to the company included Airdrieonians[2] and Raith Rovers.[3]

In 2001 the company won the contract to upgrade the A830 road between Mallaig and Fort William in the Scottish highlands.[4] Barr were also involved in the renovation of Home Park, the stadium home of Plymouth Argyle.[5]

In 2006 Barr built the first "eco-store" for Tesco at Wick in Scotland, using the unorthodox method of ship transport to deliver building materials to the site in order to save on carbon emissions.[6]

In 2007 the company was bought by McLaughlin & Harvey.[7]

For the 2012 London Olympic games, Barr won the contract to construct the Olympic Park Basketball arena.[8]

In November 2014 McLaughlin & Harvey integrated Barr Construction into its business and Barr Construction ceased to exist as a separate business,[9] although the Barr name continues to be used within the group for Barr Environmental.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Barr Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Fans out to brew up Barr bill". BBC. 3 April 2001. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  3. ^ Stephen, Kenneth (5 October 1999). "Raith plea to building supremo Barr". Daily Record. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  4. ^ "Upgrade for 'road to the isles'". BBC. 30 April 2001. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  5. ^ "Go-ahead for £50m Plymouth Argyle project". Construction Enquirer. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  6. ^ "Tesco in ship to store transfer". BBC. 30 August 2006. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  7. ^ "Barr bought by Northern Irish firm". Herald Scotland. 26 May 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Construction starts on 2012 Basketball Arena | October 2009". Builder & Engineer. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  9. ^ "McLaughlin set to ditch Barr Construction brand". The Scotsman. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  10. ^ "Barr Environmental". Waste Servicing. Retrieved 23 December 2016.

External links


Construction industry of the United Kingdom
Categories