VATREG35930 | Changes affecting registration: changes involving deregistration: transfer of business from one incorporated company to another
From HM Revenue & Customs · VAT Registration
When one company is wound up and another company is incorporated to carry on the business
the registration of the old company must be cancelled, and
the registration of the new company effected
in accordance with the normal rules covering TOGC in VATREG29000.
Unless a specific request for reallocation of the existing VAT registration number has been approved, you should allocate a new registration number even where the old and new companies bear the same name.