Northgate Vehicle Hire has acquired Blakedale Ltd, a leading supplier of specialist traffic management and support vehicles, for an undisclosed sum. 

The deal will enable Northgate to grow its share of the traffic management sector at a time when the Government has pledged strategic long-term investment in UK roads until 2050. 

Blakedale runs a fleet of 334 traffic management vehicles, ranging from 3.5 to 18 tonnes, reports Fleet World.

A family-owned business, Blakedale is said to be the UK’s largest privately owned traffic management company and runs a fleet of 334 traffic management vehicles.  

These range from 3.5 to 18 tonnes and are supplied to highways contractors on both short- and long-term rental and contract hire, spanning motorway and urban environments. The fleet is also available for self-drive hire. 

Martin Ward, CEO of Redde Northgate Plc, commented: “We are extremely excited that Blakedale will become part of our wider group. It’s a great business with both rental and specialist vehicle build capability that will provide a wider range of essential services to our blue-chip clients. It’s a perfect fit with our Northgate Vehicle Hire business which already operates in the traffic management sector.” 

Founded in 1995, Blakedale now operates from a 20,000-square foot site in Matrix Park, Chorley, Lancashire where its experienced team design, build, repair and maintain vehicles for the UK’s leading highways contractors. These include 18-tonne Impact Protection Vehicles, welfare vans and bespoke traffic management vehicles of all shapes and sizes. 

Northgate will position Blakedale as a separate division, retaining its premises and people. This includes current joint-MD and family shareholder Carmen Bowley, who has worked in the business since 1999 and will remain on board to ensure a smooth transition process over the coming months. 

Northgate has appointed Jon Taylor as joint-MD to initially work alongside Bowley. Taylor has been with Northgate for over 20 years working in senior operational roles and will work with Bowley to leverage the specialist skills and resources of both businesses to deliver enhanced customer propositions.  

Carmen Bowley stated: “We are very proud of what Blakedale has achieved over the past 30 years. It is a modern business with excellent facilities that is at the forefront of a fast-moving industry. We are pleased to become part of the Redde Northgate family to support the long-term growth of the business.”