14th August 2025
- Company: Greg Hall Builders Ltd (04531584) — active since 2002. Registered office: 1a Magda Road, Offerton/Stockport SK2 7LX. SIC 41100 (development of building projects). Directors: John Gregory Hall; secretary: Alison Hall. Find and Update Company Information+1
Latest accounts (year ended 31 Mar 2024)
Filed as small/micro “total exemption” accounts (so only a balance sheet is published — no turnover/profit breakdown). Key figures: Find and Update Company Information
- Cash at bank: £58 (prior year £451)
- Fixed assets (plant/vehicles net book value): £2,338 (PY £3,118)
- Current creditors (due <1 year): £79,478 (PY £69,916)
- Notes show this is entirely directors’ loan accounts (no bank loans shown due <1yr; prior year also included £2,258 corporation tax which is now nil). Find and Update Company Information
- Net current liabilities: £79,420 (PY £69,465)
- Net liabilities / negative equity: £77,082 (PY £66,347)
- Share capital: £1; P&L reserve: –£77,083 (PY –£66,348). Find and Update Company Information
- Employees (incl. director): 1. Find and Update Company Information
- No audit (small company exemption). Accounts approved 22/07/2024 by J. Hall. Find and Update Company Information
What that implies
- The deficit widened by ~£10.7k year-on-year (movement in the P&L reserve from –£66,348 to –£77,083). That’s consistent with a small loss for 2023/24 (no dividends or share changes are shown). Find and Update Company Information
- Liquidity is very tight (only £58 cash on the balance sheet at year-end). Day-to-day working capital appears to be supported by the director’s loans. Find and Update Company Information+1
- There are no bank loans shown on the balance sheet (current or long-term) for 2024; however, 7 outstanding historic charges remain at Companies House (mostly 2004–2007 with RBS, secured on individual properties). These may relate to past developments; some older charges are sometimes left unsatisfied in the register even when repaid, but they still appear as “outstanding” until formally discharged. Treat as a flag to verify if you need absolute clarity. Find and Update Company Information
Overall assessment (based solely on filed data)
- This is a very small, owner-managed builder/developer with minimal disclosures (typical for micro entities).
- The company is balance-sheet insolvent (negative equity £77k), and operational funding relies on the director (director’s loan ~£79k). That’s not unusual for tiny builders but does mean credit risk is higher than a firm with positive equity and cash buffers. Find and Update Company Information+1
- No turnover or profit breakdown is published, so you cannot judge margins or pipeline from these accounts alone. If you need comfort, you’d ask for management accounts, aged debtors/creditors, and proof of ongoing director support (or loan subordination) before extending credit.
Practical due-diligence tips (if you’re considering hiring or offering credit)
- Ask for a trade reference and current insurance (public liability/employer’s liability).
- Request recent management accounts and an aged creditor list to see how suppliers are being paid.
- Confirm the director’s loan position (and whether it’s subordinated to other creditors).
- Check planning history/project references in Offerton/Stockport to confirm completed work (there are recent planning-related documents naming the company as client). Planning Portal
5-Year Financial Trend (2020–2024)
| Year ended 31 Mar | Cash at Bank | Total Current Assets | Total Current Liabilities | Net Assets (Equity) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | £17,895 | £26,029 | £34,495 | –£7,144 |
| 2021 | £553 | £15,403 | £37,416 | –£16,470 |
| 2022 | £336 | £506 | £59,795 | –£55,132 |
| 2023 | £451 | £451 | £69,916 | –£66,347 |
| 2024 | £58 | £58 | £79,478 | –£77,082 |
—Data compiled via Company Check, based on filings at Companies House.Company Check
Key Observations
1. Cash Position & Liquidity
- 2020–2024: Cash reserves plummeted from £17.9k down to £58.
- 2024: Barely any liquid funds are available, meaning the company likely relies heavily on the director’s loan account for day-to-day operations.Company Check
2. Equity & Liabilities
- Net liabilities (negative equity) have grown steadily—from around £7k in 2020 to £77k in 2024.
- Current liabilities (mainly director’s loans) have also risen year by year—from £34 k to £79.5 k by 2024—indicating an increasing reliance on funding internally.Company Check
3. Overall Trends
- The company shows a consistent downward trend in financial health.
- Given the lack of cash reserves and widening deficit, the company is balance-sheet insolvent, which is not unusual for micro-entities, but it increases credit risk.
- There’s no turnover or profit data available in these summary figures. For deeper financial insight, you’d need to review full or management accounts.
What This Means
- Operational sustainability depends on continued director funding.
- Without active cash flow or profitability improvements, the deficit may continue to grow—potentially threatening long-term viability.
- If you’re considering work with or extending credit to this company:
- Ask for management accounts to view recent performance.
- Check aged creditors and payment turnaround.
- Confirm director’s loan details, especially if these are unsecured or could be repaid at short notice.
- Seek trade references and project history to establish reliability.
Padden Brook Builder’s Finances Under the Microscope
Greg Hall Builders Ltd – a small construction and development firm based at 1a Magda Road, Offerton – has filed its latest set of accounts, and they paint a picture of a business running on tight margins and heavy reliance on its owner’s support.
The company, incorporated in 2002 and run by director John Gregory Hall with company secretary Alison Hall, operates under the classification “development of building projects.” According to figures lodged with Companies House for the year ending 31 March 2024, the firm’s cash reserves have shrunk to just £58, down from £451 the year before and from nearly £18,000 in 2020.
The accounts show:
- Fixed assets (plant/vehicles): £2,338 (previous year £3,118)
- Current creditors: £79,478 (up from £69,916), almost entirely made up of loans from the director
- Net current liabilities: £79,420
- Negative equity: £77,082 – meaning the company owes more than it owns
- Number of employees: 1 (including the director)
The figures suggest the firm made a small loss in 2023/24, with its deficit widening by around £10,700 compared to the prior year. No turnover or profit figures are published under the “small company” filing exemption, meaning outsiders can’t see how much work is being brought in or how profitable it is.
Although there are no bank loans currently on the balance sheet, Companies House records still list seven “outstanding” charges dating from 2004–2007, mostly with the Royal Bank of Scotland, secured against individual properties. In some cases, such historic charges remain on record even when repaid, but the Gazette understands these are worth checking for those doing business with the firm.
A review of the past five years’ balance sheets reveals a steady decline:
What it means for the local building scene
Industry watchers say such figures aren’t unusual for micro-sized, owner-managed builders, but they do raise questions about resilience. With almost no cash buffer and operations financed largely by the director’s loans, the firm’s ability to take on and complete projects depends heavily on the ongoing financial backing of Mr Hall himself.
Anyone looking to engage Greg Hall Builders would be well advised to request recent management accounts, verify insurance, and seek trade references to confirm reliability and capacity.
The Romiley Gazette will continue to monitor filings for local construction companies and report on any significant changes affecting the area’s builders and developers.
