BURNS DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED

🌳Matureactive
SC187997 · ltd · incorporated 1998-07-28
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 Dec 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
79/100
Strong
🔔
Follow this company (free)
Email alerts on filings, charges, director changes, gazette notices. No account needed.

Unsubscribe any time from any email. GDPR-respectful.

🔒Generate AI memo →🔒Outreach pack →🔒Corporate story →📑 Reports →Sign in to watch
What this business does
Primary activity: Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate
Sector: Real estate
Investor take
Pursue
Active trading company with a 91-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.

Opportunity 79/100 (strong), bankability 77/100. Strong seller-intent signal (93/100, director aged 91). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 3 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).

🏦

Refinance opportunity

4 live charges · 3 lenders · oldest 27.2y

35/100
too messy

Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.

  • · Oldest live charge is 27.2 years old — likely at or near maturity.
  • · 3 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
  • · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.

Data confidence

Overall: medium (79/100)

Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.

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
4 charges (4/4 with lender, 4/4 with type)
90
Directors & officers
8 officers (2 active, 8 linked, 3 with DOB)
78
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 2 total, 2 with control declared
90
Director network
4 connected companies via shared directors
57
Filing history
87 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
79/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
77
Few red flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
£0£0£0£0£0£0Dec 2023Dec 2024

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102
Metric2024-12-312023-12-31
Average employees300200

Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.

🔒Filing-note intelligence

2 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 (41 events)Click to expand
  1. 2025-09-30
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  2. 2025-08-26
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  3. 2025-08-11
    ➖
    CAMPBELL, Patricia resigned
    secretary
  4. 2025-07-10
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  5. 2025-06-25
    ➕
    BURNS, Stephen appointed
    director
  6. 2024-11-04
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  7. 2024-11-01
    📄
    change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
    accounts · AA01
  8. 2024-09-12
    📄
    appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP03
  9. 2024-08-05
    ➕
    CAMPBELL, Patricia appointed
    secretary
  10. 2024-08-05
    ➖
    CAMPBELL, Patricia resigned
    secretary
  11. 2024-08-05
    📄
    termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM02
  12. 2023-08-23
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  13. 2022-09-22
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  14. 2021-12-22
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  15. 2020-12-23
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  16. 2020-03-12
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  17. 2020-03-05
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  18. 2020-03-05
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #4
  19. 2020-02-27
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  20. 2020-02-27
    📄
    mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
    mortgage · MR04
  21. 2020-02-27
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #3
  22. 2020-02-27
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #2
  23. 2019-12-18
    📄
    change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
    accounts · AA01
  24. 2019-01-23
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  25. 2018-12-18
    📄
    change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
    accounts · AA01
  26. 2018-03-13
    ➖
    BURNS, William resigned
    director
  27. 2012-10-04
    🔓
    Charge satisfied #1
  28. 1999-05-13
    🔒
    Charge registered #4
    Lender: Dumfries and Galloway Enterprise Company Limited
  29. 1999-05-13
    🔒
    Charge registered #3
    Lender: The Dumfries & Galloway Council
  30. 1999-05-13
    🔒
    Charge registered #2
    Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
  31. 1999-02-15
    🔒
    Charge registered #1
    Lender: The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
  32. 1999-02-10
    ➕
    BURNS, June appointed
    director
  33. 1999-02-10
    ➖
    BURNS, June resigned
    secretary
  34. 1999-02-10
    ➕
    CAMPBELL, Patricia appointed
    secretary
  35. 1998-08-10
    ➕
    BURNS, June appointed
    secretary
  36. 1998-08-10
    ➖
    OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED resigned
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  37. 1998-08-10
    ➕
    BURNS, William appointed
    director
  38. 1998-08-10
    ➖
    JORDANS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED resigned
    corporate-nominee-director
  39. 1998-07-28
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As BURNS DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED
  40. 1998-07-28
    ➕
    OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED appointed
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  41. 1998-07-28
    ➕
    JORDANS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED appointed
    corporate-nominee-director

Owner dependency

100/100
Critical — business is the founder

The business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.

FACTORS
  • +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
  • +Founder name in company name: Company name contains director surname "BURNS" — strong identity link between founder and business.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 27 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Founder age: Director aged approximately 91 — succession pressure is live.
  • +Family involvement: Multiple officers share a surname — likely family business, which concentrates governance.

Succession & seller-readiness

86/100
Likely off-market candidate

Strong acquirability signals converging. Worth approaching directly — this is how off-market deals start.

SIGNALS
  • primaryFounder aged 70+: Senior director is approximately 91 years old. Natural succession window is now.
  • secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
  • primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 27 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 ·
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
medium

Multiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.

Shareholders & ownership

1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mrs June Burns
Individual · British · DOB 06/1935 · age 91
75–100%
75–100%75-100% shares · 75-100% voting14/03/2018
1 historic (ceased) PSC
  • Mr William Burnsceased 13/03/2018· 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control

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 · Property · KA postcode area
CompanyEst. valueTurnoverNet worthStaffAgeOppDirector
C&S PROPERTY SERVICES LIMITED→
SC616125 · est 2018 · no financials extracted
————7y——
CAROIS PRIVATE LIMITED→
SC777773 · est 2023 · no financials extracted
————2y——
CMW HOLDINGS AYRSHIRE LTD→
SC765967 · est 2023 · no financials extracted
————3y——
CNG MCMILLAN LIMITED→
SC481138 · est 2014 · no financials extracted
————11y——
COOPELLA LTD→
SC882801 · est 2026 · no financials extracted
———————
CORESPACE LTD→
SC875959 · est 2026 · no financials extracted
———————
CRESTA KNITWEAR COMPANY LIMITED→
SC049809 · est 1972 · no financials extracted
————54y——
CROSSING PROPERTIES LTD.→
SC170722 · est 1996 · no financials extracted
————29y——
CROWLIN PROPERTY LIMITED→
SC688823 · est 2021 · no financials extracted
————5y——
CRUCIBLE DEVELOPMENTS (RESIDENTIAL) LIMITED→
SC619625 · est 2019 · no financials extracted
————7y——
CSD PROPERTIES (AYRSHIRE) LTD→
SC766801 · est 2023 · no financials extracted
————2y——
CTB ECOMMERCE LTD→
SC818088 · est 2024 · no financials extracted
————1y——
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions

7 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
Incorporated1998-07-28
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC68209 — Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate

Registered office

3 Wellington Square
Ayr
Ayrshire
KA7 1EN

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-03
Last: 2025-07-20

Officers (2 active · 6 resigned)

BURNS, June→
director · ~91y · appointed 1999-02-10
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BURNS, Stephen→
director · ~61y · appointed 2025-06-25
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
BURNS, June→
secretary · appointed 1998-08-10 · resigned 1999-02-10
Resigned
CAMPBELL, Patricia→
secretary · appointed 2024-08-05 · resigned 2025-08-11
Resigned
CAMPBELL, Patricia→
secretary · appointed 1999-02-10 · resigned 2024-08-05
Resigned
OSWALDS OF EDINBURGH LIMITED→
corporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 1998-07-28 · resigned 1998-08-10
Resigned
BURNS, William→
director · ~91y · appointed 1998-08-10 · resigned 2018-03-13
Resigned
JORDANS (SCOTLAND) LIMITED→
corporate-nominee-director · appointed 1998-07-28 · resigned 1998-08-10
Resigned

Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.

Mortgages & charges

4
Total charges
0
Outstanding
0
Active lenders
Status:Lender:4 of 4 shown
TypeProperties
satisfied
Dumfries and Galloway Enterprise Company
Dumfries and Galloway Enterprise Company Limited
Standard security1 property13/05/199905/03/2020
satisfied
The Dumfries & Galloway Council
Standard security1 property13/05/199927/02/2020
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
Standard security1 property13/05/199927/02/2020
satisfied
Lloyds Banking Group
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
Bond & floating charge1 property15/02/199904/10/2012

Recent filings (87 total)

accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-09-30
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2025-08-26
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-07-25
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2025-07-10
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-11-04
change-account-reference-date-company-previous-shortened
accounts · AA01
2024-11-01
appoint-person-secretary-company-with-name-date
officers · AP03
2024-09-12
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-08-12
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2024-08-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-08-23
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-07-20
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-09-22
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-07-22
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-12-22
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-07-26