Modular bathroom specialist Taplanes is set to go into liquidation.

The Harrogate based firm has been in business since 1979 and specialised in the manufacture and supply of bathroom and shower pods across all sectors.

Assets of the £3m turnover business including a forward order book of £2.5m are now being sold off.

One rival modular specialist said the collapse was a reminder to clients that picking suppliers on price alone is a false economy.

He said: “When firms go under mid-project, the real cost to developers and contractors goes far beyond any saving at tender stage. Delayed completions, scrambling for replacements, rising costs and nervous investors are all part of the fallout.

“Bathroom pods might look like a neat package item on a spreadsheet, but in reality they’re on the critical path of large resi, PBSA and BTR jobs. If the pod supplier goes down, whole schemes can grind to a halt.

“Funders and procurement teams need to dig deeper than the initial number on the bid. They should be asking tough questions about financial stability, track record and resilience before signing contracts.

“In a market where margins are tight and volatility is the new normal, the strength of the supply chain is just as important as the design spec. Without financially solid partners, risk ramps up for everyone — from contractors on the ground to the investors bankrolling the deal.

“Price still matters, but stability matters more.”