ACORN DEVELOPMENTS (SW) LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
04868957 · ltd · incorporated 2003-08-18
Investment thesis
Property vehicle with leveraged stack — refinance / partial-release angle.
Why interesting: Asset-backed; value largely in underlying property; lender engagement likely possible.
Why risky: Multiple lenders to manage; inter-creditor friction and partial-release cost possible.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Nov 2024
Net worth
£-1.64M
book net assets
Opportunity
71/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Construction of domestic buildings
Sector: Construction
Investor take
Pass (distressed without resilience)Distressed active trading company — structural issues outweigh the discount.
Opportunity 71/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 13 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: distressed disposal / insolvency (65/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
39 live charges · 13 lenders · oldest 22.5y
15/100
under pressure
Refinance would be pressure-driven, not opportunity-driven. Expect tighter margins and covenant scrutiny.
- · Oldest live charge is 22.5 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 13 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Cashflow trend is negative — lender view likely cautious.
Data confidence
Overall: high (82/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
39 charges (39/39 with lender, 39/39 with type)
90
Directors & officers
6 officers (2 active, 6 linked, 3 with DOB)
80
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 1 total, 1 with control declared
90
Director network
12 connected companies via shared directors
81
Filing history
133 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
71/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
65
Some acquirability indicators.
Risk profile
74
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declaredNegative net assets
Liabilities exceed assets by £1,641,266
Very low cash
Cash position: £0
Cash draining
Cash down 100% YoY
Cash YoY
-100%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£0
↓ 100% YoY
Net Worth
-£1.6m
↓ 17% YoY
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2024-11-30 | 2023-11-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | £0 | £1.8k |
| Net assets | £-1.64M | £-1.40M |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
3 signals detected in this company's narrative notes — going-concern language, audit opinion, contingent liabilities, related-party transactions.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
0
filings
Last 180 days
0
filings
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (102 events)Click to expand
- 2025-11-21📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-11-20🔒Charge registered #39Lender: Norman Properties Limited
- 2025-08-29📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2025-05-08📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-05-07🔒Charge registered #38Lender: Kan Ventures LTD
- 2025-04-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-04-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-04-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-04-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-04-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-04-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-04-14📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2025-04-14🔓Charge satisfied #34
- 2025-04-14🔓Charge satisfied #33
- 2025-04-14🔓Charge satisfied #32
- 2025-04-14🔓Charge satisfied #31
- 2025-04-14🔓Charge satisfied #28
- 2025-04-14🔓Charge satisfied #27
- 2025-04-14🔓Charge satisfied #26
- 2024-08-30📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2024-07-12📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2024-07-08🔒Charge registered #37Lender: Paragon Development Finance Limited
- 2024-03-19📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2024-03-15🔒Charge registered #36Lender: Michael Edward Davis and Heather Elizabeth Davis
- 2023-08-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-08-04➕THOMAS, Mary Diana appointeddirector
- 2023-08-04📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-08-31📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-03-02📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2022-03-02📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2022-02-10📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2022-02-04🔒Charge registered #35Lender: Gcp Asset Backed Income (UK) Limited
- 2021-12-16📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2021-12-09🔒Charge registered #34Lender: Close Brothers Limited
- 2021-08-26📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-07-30🔒Charge registered #33Lender: Bricks Finance Limited
- 2020-11-25🔓Charge satisfied #25
- 2020-11-25🔓Charge satisfied #24
- 2020-11-25🔓Charge satisfied #23
- 2020-11-25🔓Charge satisfied #22
- 2020-11-25🔓Charge satisfied #21
- 2020-11-25🔓Charge satisfied #20
- 2020-11-25🔓Charge satisfied #18
- 2020-11-25🔓Charge satisfied #17
- 2019-11-01🔒Charge registered #32Lender: Close Brothers Limited
- 2019-05-20🔒Charge registered #30Lender: Hal Owen White
- 2019-05-14🔒Charge registered #31Lender: Close Brothers Limited
- 2019-04-12🔒Charge registered #29Lender: Close Brothers Limited
- 2019-02-15🔒Charge registered #28Lender: Close Brothers Limited
- 2017-11-20🔒Charge registered #27Lender: Close Brothers Limited
Showing most recent 50 of 102 events
Owner dependency
76/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 23 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.
Succession & seller-readiness
56/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 23 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
Red flags
1 med · 1 lowCharge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
8 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Mark Peter Thomas Individual · British · DOB 06/1978 · age 48 | 75–100% | — | 75-100% shares | 06/04/2016 |
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
🔒Co-director network graph
Radial SVG graph showing every company connected via shared directors, colour-coded by status.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Similar companies
Active · Construction · TA postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1ST CHOICE GAS CARE LTD→ 11490961 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| 1ST FACILITIES MANAGEMENT LIMITED→ 06422482 · est 2007 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 18y | — | — |
| 39 FORE STREET LTD.→ 11176344 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| 4OURTH GENERATION LAYZELL BUILDERS LTD→ 10775374 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| A AND M DEVELOPMENTS (SOUTH WEST) LIMITED→ 12546165 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 6y | — | — |
| A FRY PLUMBING & HEATING LIMITED→ 11872587 · est 2019 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| A H CARPENTRY & BUILD LIMITED→ 07437387 · est 2010 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 15y | — | — |
| A1 WINDOWS & DOORS LIMITED→ 04132303 · est 2000 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 25y | — | — |
| ABERCROMBIE BUILDING SERVICES LTD→ 16706073 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ABODE DEVELOPMENTS (SOUTH WEST) LTD→ 15967918 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ACE GROUP PROPERTY DEVELOPMENTS LTD→ 15695898 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| ACORN INNOVATION BUILD LTD→ 14863611 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
8 specific questions generated from this company's actual signals — liquidity, leverage, director age, charge count, red flags, age-of-company.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →🔒Advanced scoring suite
Exit-route ranking, improvement thesis, quiet-distress detector, covenant-pressure proxy, extraction monitor, approaching triggers, ownership drift, local cluster, value trap, debt capacity, archetype classification — 48+ scoring modules.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Company details
Statusactive
Typeltd
Incorporated2003-08-18
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC41202 — Construction of domestic buildings
Registered office
40 Kingston House 1 Kingston Road
Taunton
Somerset
TA2 7ED
England
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-08-31
Last made up to: 2024-11-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-09-01
Last: 2025-08-18
Officers (2 active · 4 resigned)
THOMAS, Mark Peter→
Activedirector · ~48y · appointed 2003-08-18
View their other companies + combined net worth →
THOMAS, Mary Diana→
Activedirector · ~43y · appointed 2023-08-04
View their other companies + combined net worth →
THOMAS, Mark Peter→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2003-08-18 · resigned 2010-12-01
BRISTOL LEGAL SERVICES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2003-08-18 · resigned 2003-08-18
COATE, Fredderick James→
Resigneddirector · ~45y · appointed 2003-08-18 · resigned 2010-08-13
BOURSE NOMINEES LIMITED→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2003-08-18 · resigned 2003-08-18
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
39
Total charges
8
Outstanding
8
Active lenders
Status:Lender:39 of 39 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | Norman Properties Norman Properties Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 20/11/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | Kan Ventures Kan Ventures LTD | A registered charge | 2 properties | 07/05/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | Paragon Paragon Development Finance Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 08/07/2024 | — | |
| outstanding | Michael Edward Davis and Heather Elizabeth Davis | A registered charge | 1 property | 15/03/2024 | — | |
| outstanding | Gcp Asset Backed Income (UK) Gcp Asset Backed Income (UK) Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 04/02/2022 | — | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 09/12/2021 | 14/04/2025 | |
| satisfied | Bricks Finance Bricks Finance Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 30/07/2021 | 14/04/2025 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 01/11/2019 | 14/04/2025 | |
| outstanding | Hal Owen White | A registered charge | 1 property | 20/05/2019 | — | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 14/05/2019 | 14/04/2025 | |
| outstanding | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 12/04/2019 | — | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 15/02/2019 | 14/04/2025 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 3 properties | 20/11/2017 | 14/04/2025 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 27/10/2017 | 14/04/2025 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 28/04/2017 | 25/11/2020 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 28/04/2017 | 25/11/2020 | |
| satisfied | Hal Owen White | A registered charge | 4 properties | 29/11/2016 | 25/11/2020 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 29/11/2016 | 25/11/2020 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 11/04/2016 | 25/11/2020 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 17/09/2015 | 25/11/2020 | |
| outstanding | Hal Owen White, Helen White, Geoffrey Haggett | A registered charge | 1 property | 30/01/2015 | — | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 30/01/2015 | 25/11/2020 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | A registered charge | 1 property | 11/03/2014 | 25/11/2020 | |
| satisfied | Timothy Wilfred Fish | Legal charge | 1 property | 31/01/2013 | 06/09/2016 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | Legal charge | 3 properties | 11/01/2013 | 06/09/2016 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | Debenture | 3 properties | 11/01/2013 | 06/09/2016 | |
| satisfied | Hal Owen White Helen White and Geoffrey Haggett | Legal charge | 1 property | 21/04/2011 | 06/09/2016 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | Legal charge | 1 property | 21/04/2011 | 06/09/2016 | |
| satisfied | Close Brothers Close Brothers Limited | Debenture | 1 property | 21/04/2011 | 06/09/2016 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 14/11/2006 | 06/09/2016 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 14/11/2006 | 06/09/2016 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 14/11/2006 | 06/09/2016 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 26/10/2006 | 10/03/2014 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | Legal charge | 1 property | 23/08/2006 | 06/09/2016 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 06/01/2006 | 03/03/2007 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 10/12/2004 | 15/09/2006 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 01/07/2004 | 03/03/2007 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Legal mortgage | 1 property | 08/01/2004 | 03/03/2007 | |
| satisfied | HSBC Hsbc Bank PLC | Debenture | 1 property | 04/12/2003 | 03/03/2007 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (133 total)
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-11-21
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-08-29
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-08-29
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-05-08
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-04-14
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-04-14
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-04-14
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-04-14
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-04-14
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-04-14
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2025-04-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-08-30
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-08-19
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2024-07-12
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2024-03-19