The takeover plan gives the fast-expanding independent aggregate business a strong regional supply base and will also boost its ready-mix operations.

Under a £34m deal with Aggregate Industries, Breedon will take control of six quarries, four asphalt plants, seven ready-mixed concrete and two concrete block plants in Grampian, Tayside, Highlands and Hebrides.

It will add around 20% to group turnover and doubles Breedon’s mineral reserves to 400m tonnes.

Breedon is also in advanced talks to buy four quarries and associated aggregate businesses from Marshalls for £19m.

The assets in play are a limestone quarry at Clearwell, near Lydney, Gloucestershire, sand and gravel quarries at Dunsville, South Yorkshire, Astley Moss in Greater Manchester and Mold in North Wales, which operates under the Lloyds Sand and Gravel trading name.

Discussions also include an option to develop sand and gravel resources near Saredon, Staffordshire.

Under the proposed deal Breedon would continue to supply Marshalls with materials at its concrete product manufacturing sites.

Peter Tom CBE, Breedon chairman, said: “These acquisitions are consistent with our long-term aim of becoming the lowest-cost operator in our chosen markets.

“We believe that they will put us in an even stronger position to benefit from any UK economic recovery.

“We will remain focused on further improving our performance and our management team has demonstrated its ability to deliver solid results in the most difficult market conditions.

“The previous acquisitions made by the group have all added significant value to our core business and this gives us confidence in our ability to repeat this with future deals.

“Weather permitting, the board is confident of making further progress in 2013.”