A Cornwall-based company in the construction sector is celebrating significant growth with the official opening of new premises.
The Duchy Group, providing plant hire, civil engineering, groundworks, demolition, haulage and supply of aggregates, has outgrown its rented yard in Blackwater and relocated to new purpose-built premises near St Austell.
Duchy House, located at Nanpean, is a 1.7-acre site owned by the Duchy Group, which currently comprises four trading divisions: Duchy Civils (launched 2015), Duchy Plant Hire (launched 2018), Duchy Demolition (launched 2022) and Aardvark Haulplant (acquired 2022).
Since the company first started Duchy Civils eight years ago, with subcontract and self-employed labour and a 7.5 tonne truck, founder and chief executive, Jamie Shelton, has developed the Duchy Group which now employs 66 people, boasting 35 trucks and over 300 items of plant equipment for hire.
Shelton commented: “I feel very grateful that the construction industry has welcomed the Duchy Group and its trading divisions – Duchy Civils, Duchy Plant Hire, Duchy Demolition and Aardvark; and more importantly is taking us very seriously as a major, independent player within the sector.
“I genuinely believe the sector deserves better quality and standards. Excellence has become the cornerstone of our core values.”
Newer trading arm, Duchy Demolition launched last year and projects within its first year of trading have included the full strip out of the former Cornwall Council offices at Pydar House and the structural dismantling of St Clements House – both in Truro; whilst demolitions have included a large private dwelling in Polzeath, the King’s Head pub in Newquay and a Grade II listed school in Exeter.
