new tilbury cement works targets spring 2026 for vertical roller mill steelwork completion

Leading provider of sustainable building solutions, Holcim UK, is moving ahead at pace with the construction of its state-of-the-art Tilbury Cement Works, with steelwork and mechanical equipment installation of its new vertical roller mill (VRM) targeted for completion in Spring 2026. 

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The VRM is part of a multi-million-pound investment from Holcim UK and will grind a range of raw materials including Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GBFS) and Recycled Concrete Fines (RCF) that will enable the production of low-carbon cementitious products. Electrical installation, testing and commissioning of the full grinding system are planned for completion by the end of 2026.

This is another significant milestone at the flagship facility as it moves towards initial operations commencing in 2026. Once fully operational, the facility will allow Holcim UK to serve its customers across the South of England 24/7 with conventional, low carbon and circular cementitious products, from six loading heads and five weighbridges.

Alongside the VRM, other major investments at the advanced, multi-million-pound facility include a ship-to-shore conveyor, 50,000 m 3 capacity raw material storage hall and the UK’s first ever cement dome silo with a storage capacity of 30,000 m 3 . 

Five conventional steel silos will provide a further 6,500 m 3 of space for a variety of cementitious products.

Tim Fry, Project Manager at Holcim UK, said: “Tilbury is built around one clear promise, which is making sustainable construction a reality. The systems being installed at our Tilbury Cement Works are not only investments in innovative equipment and infrastructure, but a commitment to our sustainable innovation pipeline. Alongside our promise to increase our low-carbon and circular products portfolio, we will provide absolute reliability with a consistent supply of cementitious materials.”

The investment responds to the increasing appetite for circularity and lower carbon construction ambition in the industry. Holcim UK’s recent Circularity Survey revealed that 97% of respondents believe that embracing circularity at their organisation is important, compared to 79% in 2024.

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To ensure Tilbury is sustainable in both its output and its construction, the site is being developed on circular principles. The new plant is situated at a legacy location of Holcim UK’s, where over 25,000 m³ of concrete has been recycled, together with 10,000 tonnes of reclaimed asphalt and 20,000 tonnes of excavated material repurposed through Holcim UK’s waste management business. The build also utilises Holcim’s own eco products, including ECOPact® low-carbon concrete and ECOPlanet® cement.

Mohamed Alami, Managing Director of Holcim UK’s Cement Division, said: “This investment is about more than just capacity - it is about our impact. Tilbury embodies our strategy in action, bringing together innovation, sustainability, and scale to shape the next generation of construction in the UK.”

For more information about Holcim UK’s Tilbury Cement Works plant, click here: https://www.holcim.co.uk/tilbury