Benfleet Plastic Warehouse Faces Winding-Up Petition
A winding-up petition has been presented against Essex-based merchant Benfleet Plastic Warehouse Limited at the High Court of Justice, Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions. According to official court filings, the petition was presented on 23 September 2026 under case number CR-2026-007229. The presentation of a petition is a statutory step taken by a creditor and does not constitute a determination of insolvency; the court has not adjudicated on the matter.
Petition details
The core listing details recorded at the Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions are summarized below:
| Field | Court Record |
| --- | --- |
| Company Name | BENFLEET PLASTIC WAREHOUSE LIMITED |
| Company Number | 07754344 |
| Case Number | CR-2026-007229 |
| Presentation Date | 23 September 2026 |
| Case Type | Companies - Petition - Winding Up Petition |
| Source | Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions (CE-File) |
The petitioning creditor, alleged debt amount, and court hearing date are not stated in the published source data. Under Section 123 of the Insolvency Act 1986, a creditor may file a petition on the grounds that a company is unable to pay its debts.
Company snapshot
BENFLEET PLASTIC WAREHOUSE LIMITED (company number 07754344) was incorporated on 26 August 2011. The company's registered office address is 1-3 High Street, Dunmow, Essex, CM6 1UU.
According to records at Companies House, the company trades under Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 46130, representing agents involved in the sale of timber and building materials. Further operational details can be reviewed via the BENFLEET PLASTIC WAREHOUSE LIMITED profile on Corp Intel. Latest financial accounts and turnover statistics are not stated in the published source data.
Directors and ownership
Public corporate registers outline the following officer and control entries for BENFLEET PLASTIC WAREHOUSE LIMITED:
- Director: Mr Graeme Richard Smith (appointed 26 August 2011; nationality British; resident in England; born July 1975).
- Person with Significant Control (PSC): Mr Graeme Richard Smith (notified 26 August 2016). The register notes shareholding of 75% to 100%, voting rights of 75% to 100%, and the right to appoint or remove directors.
These details reflect factual entries on the public register. The public record contains no commentary connecting any named individual to financial distress or misconduct.
Recent filings and Gazette activity
No statutory notices regarding this petition have been published in The Gazette at the time of reporting. Under the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016, a petition is usually advertised in The Gazette no earlier than seven business days after service on the company and no later than seven business days before the hearing.
To track incoming court filings across UK trade sectors, credit professionals consult today's winding-up petition cause list.
What this means for suppliers, creditors and counterparties
The filing of a winding-up petition marks the formal initiation of court proceedings. Under Section 127 of the Insolvency Act 1986, any disposition of the company's property made after the commencement of the winding-up (the presentation date) is void unless validated by court order.
Practical Risk Assessment Framework
When a commercial counterparty is subject to a winding-up petition, credit control teams should follow a structured evaluation procedure:
1. Re-evaluate credit terms: Suspend open credit extensions and consider moving ongoing orders to cash-on-delivery (COD).
2. Audit outstanding balances: Reconcile ledgers immediately to establish exact exposure and verify any enforceable Retention of Title (ROT) provisions.
3. Run a winding up petition search: Execute a focused winding up petition search to identify whether additional legal notices or petitions have been registered.
4. Monitor banking arrangements: Note that corporate bank accounts are routinely frozen by financial institutions once a petition is advertised in The Gazette.
Scenario Example
Consider a building materials distributor holding £30,000 in unpaid accounts with a trade customer facing court proceedings. If the supplier continues delivering stock on net-30 terms without obtaining a court validation order, payments received post-presentation may be subject to clawback by a liquidator. Running a winding up search at the earliest public signal allows trade creditors to adjust risk thresholds before exposure increases.
How to run a winding up petition search
Tracking insolvency risks across corporate trade ledgers requires cross-referencing high-court filings, statutory notices, and registry updates. Running a manual check across multiple court lists can consume vital hours during risk management decisions. A automated winding up search aggregates CE-File court entries to deliver immediate visibility before newspaper advertisement occurs.
To automate ongoing monitoring across active credit accounts, credit managers can enable free company monitoring to receive direct email notifications when registry events are filed.
For credit teams and suppliers
Credit underwriters and legal advisers must act promptly upon learning of a petition presentation. Suppliers continuing to trade blindly risk contract invalidation under statutory insolvency rules. Integrating live court data into risk assessments protects commercial ledgers from post-petition payment reversals.
FAQ
What happens after a winding-up petition is presented?
Once presented, the petition must be formally served on the company's registered office. The petitioner subsequently advertises the hearing in The Gazette, which typically prompts bank account freezes prior to the formal High Court hearing.
Is a company automatically insolvent when a petition is filed?
No. A petition represents a claim by a creditor alleging an unpaid debt. The target company may dispute the debt, seek a court validation order, pay the outstanding balance, or reach a settlement prior to the hearing date.
Why do banks freeze accounts upon petition advertisement?
Banks freeze accounts to protect themselves against liability under Section 127 of the Insolvency Act 1986, which renders post-petition transfers of company assets void without explicit court authorization.
How can suppliers protect their balance sheet after a petition?
Suppliers should review existing contracts, enforce retention of title clauses for unpaid goods, halt credit lines, and seek legal guidance regarding formal representation at court hearings.
This report summarises a petition recorded at the Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions. Presentation of a petition is not a determination of insolvency; the outcome is a matter for the court. Companies believing they are named incorrectly should email contact@corp-intel.co.uk.