Bitterley Biogas AD Limited: Winding-Up Petition Hearing Listed
A compulsory winding-up petition against Bitterley Biogas AD Limited was listed for hearing at the Insolvency and Companies Court on 20 July 2026 under case reference CR-2026-005431. The listing appeared on the ICC Interim List at Court 4 of the Rolls Building in London before a High Court judge.
Hearing details
The table below details the statutory cause list entry as published by the court register:
| Attribute | Court Register Data |
| :--- | :--- |
| Company Name | BITTERLEY BIOGAS AD LIMITED |
| Company Number | 10226420 |
| Case Reference | CR-2026-005431 |
| Court Division | Insolvency and Companies Court (ICC) |
| Venue | Court 4, The Rolls Building, Fetter Lane, London |
| Hearing Date | 20 July 2026 |
| Hearing Time | 10:30 am |
| List Type | ICC Interim List |
Legal representatives and trade creditors reviewing active petitions can cross-reference listings on today's winding-up petitions list or verify insolvency practitioner authorizations on the official roll.
Company snapshot
Incorporated on 10 June 2016, Bitterley Biogas AD Limited is recorded on the public register with an active corporate status listed as in administration. The entity operates under Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 35110, covering electricity production. Its registered office is maintained at 82 St. John Street, London, EC1M 4JN.
Financial statements filed at Companies House for the period ending 29 May 2025 record net assets of £2,629,598 and an average workforce of 3 employees. That filing followed an earlier accounting period ending 19 December 2024, which reported net assets of £2,421,502 and 3 employees. The company's principal activity is specified in public filings as electricity generation, specifically operating bioenergy assets that convert organic feedstock into renewable power.
Anaerobic digestion infrastructure requires significant ongoing capital expenditure, continuous maintenance, and secured feedstock supply agreements. When an operating entity in this sector faces court proceedings, counterparties must evaluate contractual delivery schedules, security registrations, and statutory restrictions under UK insolvency legislation.
Directors and ownership
Public filings on the registry establish ownership details under Person with Significant Control (PSC) notifications:
- Mr James Vashon Wheeler: Registered as a PSC since 30 June 2016, holding between 50% and 75% of total company shares and voting rights.
Board composition and formal administrative control over corporate assets remain governed by official filings recorded against company number 10226420. Commercial analysts evaluating balance sheet exposure should inspect land registries and institutional charges to determine whether underlying power-generation plant and machinery are encumbered by fixed legal charges.
Recent filings and Gazette activity
Under Rule 7.10 of the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016, a petitioning creditor must advertise notice of a winding-up petition in The Gazette no less than seven clear business days after serving the petition on the target entity and at least seven clear business days prior to the hearing date.
Once a petition is presented, Section 127 of the Insolvency Act 1986 applies automatically. This section dictates that any disposition of the company's property made after the commencement of the winding-up (the date the petition was filed) is void in the event a compulsory winding-up order is ultimately granted, unless explicitly validated by the court.
Following advertisement in The Gazette, commercial banks routinely freeze operating accounts to protect against liability under Section 127. Credit risk personnel routinely run a winding up petition search to verify whether supporting creditor notices or formal objections have been lodged under case CR-2026-005431.
What this means for suppliers, creditors and counterparties
The presentation of a winding-up petition creates immediate operational constraints for trading partners, feedstock suppliers, and equipment leasing providers.
Worked Scenario: Organic Feedstock Supply Post-Petition
Consider an agricultural supplier delivering biomass feedstock to an anaerobic digestion plant on standard 30-day invoice terms. A creditor files a winding-up petition, but the notice has not yet appeared in The Gazette. The operating company continues receiving daily deliveries without informing external suppliers.
Two weeks later, the statutory notice is published. The operating company's clearing bank immediately freezes all bank accounts to prevent void asset dispositions under Section 127 of the Insolvency Act 1986. The supplier attempts to collect £50,000 in outstanding invoices for recent feedstock deliveries. Because these deliveries and invoice settlements occurred after the formal petition presentation date, the bank cannot disburse payments without a court Validation Order.
If the court issues a compulsory winding-up order and no Validation Order is granted, payments made during this period are legally void. The supplier cannot compel payment from the frozen accounts and must submit a proof of debt as an unsecured creditor in compulsory liquidation, facing substantial financial recovery risks.
Counterparty Risk Mitigation Checklist
Credit underwriters and commercial managers reviewing active exposure to the company should implement the following control procedures:
1. Switch to Advance Payment Terms: Transition trading accounts to pro forma or advance cash settlement before dispatching goods or providing operational services.
2. Review Secured Asset Charges: Conduct a comprehensive company charge check to verify fixed and floating security registrations recorded on Form MR01.
3. Audit Retention of Title Provisions: Review supply contracts to confirm whether valid Retention of Title (RoT) clauses protect unconsumed feedstock or equipment stored on site.
4. Inspect Validation Orders: Require verified copies of any High Court order granted under Section 127 prior to completing asset transfers or accepting settlements post-petition.
5. Monitor Cause List Dockets: Check High Court dockets to confirm if additional creditors have filed notices of support or opposition under Rule 7.16.
For conveyancers, lawyers and lenders
Legal practitioners, conveyancers, and commercial lenders must undertake a winding up search prior to exchange of contracts, loan funding drawdowns, or corporate acquisitions. Failing to perform a timely search exposes transactions to invalidation under Section 127 of the Insolvency Act 1986 if a petition has already been presented against the company. Unwinding corporate transfers post-completion creates severe legal liabilities, financial loss, and professional indemnity claims. Performing verified court checks ensures complete operational compliance before committing funds.
How to investigate further
Historically, credit managers and legal researchers tracked corporate court proceedings through manual checks of cause lists at the Rolls Building, physical searches of Companies House paper records, and monitoring print editions of The Gazette. This fragmented workflow often resulted in intelligence delays, leaving counterparties exposed to unadvertised petitions.
Modern corporate intelligence workflows combine these sources into real-time tracking platforms. Business advisers and credit teams can monitor a UK company free to receive immediate email notifications whenever court dockets, statutory charges, or corporate filings are updated. Official insolvency guidelines can also be reviewed directly via the Insolvency Service.
Accessing consolidated data via Corp Intel enables legal and finance professionals to evaluate corporate balance sheets, review pending legal notices, and monitor ownership registers effectively.
FAQ
What does an ICC Interim List listing indicate?
The ICC Interim List handles preliminary applications, procedural directions, urgent injunctions, or applications to dismiss or validate winding-up petitions before the High Court.
How does a winding-up petition impact a company already in administration?
If a company is already in administration, presenting a winding-up petition requires permission from the court or the appointed administrator under Schedule B1 of the Insolvency Act 1986.
What is Section 127 of the Insolvency Act 1986?
Section 127 renders any disposition of company property, share transfers, or alterable status made after petition presentation void, unless validated by a High Court order.
Can a bank freeze company accounts before a winding-up order is made?
Yes. Once a bank becomes aware of a winding-up petition (typically via Gazette advertisement), it standardly freezes accounts to avoid potential liability for void payments made post-petition.
What is a Validation Order?
A Validation Order is a court order granted under Section 127 allowing a company to make specific financial dispositions or bank transfers post-petition, ensuring trade can continue legitimately.
How can creditors submit support or opposition to a petition?
Creditors must file a notice of intention to appear at the hearing under Rule 7.16 of the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 before the court-mandated deadline.
Disclaimer
This report summarises entries on the published court cause list. 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.