A civils contractor set up by former Hewlett Group owner John Duffy has ceased trading after a major bust-up at board level.

Leeds-based CORE Special Projects said it was pulling off sites this week with Duffy and managing director Alan Cooper, a long-time associate of Duffy,  blaming each other for the firm’s demise.

CORE was born out of Hewlett Renewables in the wake of the Hewlett Group collapse 10 years ago. It operated mainly across housing sites in the North for clients including Crest Nicholson and Lovell.

Accounts for the year to March 2024, signed off by Cooper, showed an 11% drop in turnover to £17m generating a small pre-tax profit of £273,000.

But things took a turn for the worse this year, and Cooper quit the business at the end of April with fellow director Lee Ferreday to set up a new outfit called Fuse Civils.

Duffy told clients in a memo seen by the Enquirer: “It is with regret that following a review of the Core Special Projects business during the month of May, the directors and shareholders have decided that there is no alternative for the company but to cease trading from today.”

He claimed the firm’s finances were far worse than reported and accused former directors of walking away without warning.

“Shortcomings in the management by certain former directors has caused the principal funder to withdraw financial support at short notice and alternative funding could not be found,” he added.

Duffy added that an orderly withdrawal from sites was now underway, and insolvency advisers were being brought in to speak with creditors.

But Cooper hit back, pointing to CORE’s 2024 accounts and claiming the business was dragged down by inter-company debts.

He said: “You only have to look at the last accounts to see what independent auditors said about the business. A lot of money is owed to the business from related businesses that Mr Duffy is in control of.”

Those accounts show Core Construction Management owed CORE Special Projects £3.6m, while Core Plant owed a further £400,000.

Cooper added: “I gave him regular updates about the financial position. I was even trying to buy the business off him but we couldn’t agree on the amount. If it was so bad, why would I want to do that?”

Cooper said he now plans to focus on building up Fuse Civils, his new Leeds-based venture.