Spetisbury Construction has started building work on six new industrial units at Dorset Innovation Park in Winfrith Newburgh, near Wool. Dorset Council recently appointed local Dorset firm Spetisbury Construction to build six industrial units, ranging from 200m2 to 600m2, funded by £4.4m from the Council’s capital budget. The Dorset Innovation
Units F and G in Baldonnell have achieved a BREEAM rating of Outstanding Mountpark has achieved the highest BREEAM accreditation scores in Ireland on two units at Mountpark Baldonnell. The units, located at Baldonnell Business Park, were assessed under the BREEAM International New Construction V6 and at the time of
Logicor, a leading owner, manager and developer of European logistics real estate, has expanded its footprint in the UK by agreeing to forward fund a 500,000 sq ft distribution warehouse on a prime logistics site in Derby. Planning permission has already been secured for the warehouse on Infinity Park Derby.
Leading property specialist, Towngate PLC, is gearing up to reveal its latest development — a brand-new row of industrial units, adding approximately 45,695 sq ft to the footprint of Towngate Business Centre at Manchester Road West, Walkden. With the steelwork phase and roof installation now complete, along with the commencement
Stoford has been appointed to deliver 16 hectares of commercial space in Shropshire. A development agreement has been signed with the landowner, Ruckley Estate, and Harrow Estates to bring forward the 39-hectare site on the edge of Shifnal. The scheme will adjoin the existing Shifnal Industrial Estate to the nearby
Chancerygate has submitted plans to speculatively build 59,500 sq ft of Grade A urban logistics and industrial space in Clayton, East Manchester. Called Eastside, the proposed scheme will comprise nine units ranging from 4,000 sq ft to 14,000 sq ft available on a freehold or leasehold basis. The projected gross
On behalf of Stockport Council, and working with the Cheadle Town Fund Board, Network Space Developments has submitted a detailed planning application for a new Eco Business Park in Cheadle. Designed to target BREEAM Outstanding and emerging Net Zero Carbon in construction accreditation from the UK Green Building Council, the
Prologis UK, a leading owner, developer and investor of logistics property, has secured planning permission for four new units in a second phase of development at Prologis Park Beddington in Croydon, South London. Located at a prime urban logistics site, with excellent access to central London and surrounding areas, the
Henry Boot has announced the formation of Origin, a new UK-focused industrial and logistics (I&L) platform created in partnership with Feldberg Capital, a specialist in scaling sustainability-driven real estate ventures in high-growth sectors. Origin will focus on developing next-generation, ESG-compliant I&L assets across the country. The platform is well-capitalised at
Works have now completed for Units 2 and 3, Omega West, Omega Business Park in Warrington delivered by McLaren Construction Midlands and North. Unit 2, developed by Omega St Helens Limited and managed by Miller Developments with Barings as Funder, is currently being marketed to potential end users and comprises
Spetisbury Construction has started building work on six new industrial units at Dorset Innovation Park in Winfrith Newburgh, near Wool. Dorset Council recently appointed local Dorset firm Spetisbury Construction to build six industrial units, ranging from 200m2 to 600m2, funded by £4.4m from the Council’s capital budget. The Dorset Innovation Park is Dorset’s only economic development site with Enterprise Zone status. The Park is developing as an advanced engineering cluster of excellence for the Southwest, building on its strengths in marine, defence, energy, and cyber-security. It offers office space, workshop facilities and fully serviced commercial employment land with benefits such as simplified planning, and full fibre accessibility. The park is home to a range of innovative businesses, including Qinetiq, Atlas, and Norco, plus the Ministry of Defence who have a presence at the Defence Battlelab situated on site. The new units provide an opportunity for further business to relocate to the park. Dorset Council has seen the number of businesses and employees on site grow over the last few years and has now invested in these units to support local business development. The units are due to completed in December 2024. Justin Ives, Managing Director of Spetisbury Construction, said: “Spetisbury Construction have worked alongside Dorset Council on numerous projects over the last 20 years and has been great to be involved in this most recent and exciting project. Our close work with the project team starting over a year ago has resulted in the development of the initial concept to a fully considered design. “The project has evolved and changed shape on several occasions to meet the needs of the target market however it is now great to be on site and into the construction phase. We look forward to delivering this project later in the year and on to future projects with the council’s team. Spetisbury Construction are a regional Chartered Building Company and are proud to be part of the Dorset Council Framework.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Units F and G in Baldonnell have achieved a BREEAM rating of Outstanding Mountpark has achieved the highest BREEAM accreditation scores in Ireland on two units at Mountpark Baldonnell. The units, located at Baldonnell Business Park, were assessed under the BREEAM International New Construction V6 and at the time of certification Unit G achieved 92.5%, the highest percentage of any building in Ireland, with Unit F achieving the second highest of 91.5%. Mountpark and the design team originally set out to deliver BREEAM Excellent, but through hard work, achieved the highest rating of Outstanding. This ambitious approach from the team has paid off, with the certification being awarded based on assessment in several different areas. These areas include management, health and wellbeing, energy, transport, water, materials, waste, land use and innovation. Mountpark looks to develop its buildings to create desirable workplaces, and to minimise the impact on the environment, by considering the wellbeing of the people who will occupy the spaces and taking steps to develop the ecological environment with local flora and fauna. Julie-Ann Lambert, Construction Director UK & Ireland at Mountpark said: “It is a testament to the hard work of the design team and the high standards that we hold ourselves to at Mountpark that we have been able to achieve these ratings for Unit G and Unit F. We are constantly learning and looking to improve, and we continue to push design and construct developments that demonstrate this sustainably. I would like to extend my thanks to our supply chain and our design team for striving for the very best and helping us achieve these fantastic ratings.” Mountpark Baldonnell is a state-of-the-art logistics development for the Dublin market. Unit F of 72,646 sq ft and Unit G of 96,930 sq ft make up the final phase of the development and are both occupied. If you are interested in learning more about Mountpark’s sustainable practices click here, or for its portfolio please click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Logicor, a leading owner, manager and developer of European logistics real estate, has expanded its footprint in the UK by agreeing to forward fund a 500,000 sq ft distribution warehouse on a prime logistics site in Derby. Planning permission has already been secured for the warehouse on Infinity Park Derby. Located in the logistics hotspot of the East Midlands, the site benefits from direct access to the national motorway network (A50, M1, and M6) and its proximity to East Midlands Airport. Throughout the construction phase, and when the building is complete, there is the potential to create over 1300 jobs. The development will be sustainably built and will target EPC A and BREEAM Excellent certification. In addition to solar panels, LED lighting and air source heat pumps, there are plans for extensive landscaping with 112 trees, wetland habitats, bird boxes and bug hotels to improve the levels of local biodiversity at the site. Employees on the site will have access to nature trails, cycleways and footpaths to promote sustainable travel. Construction is due to start early 2024. Charlie Howard, Managing Director, UK at Logicor, said: “Infinity Park Derby fits perfectly with our strategy of further growing our footprint in areas where we know demand for quality real estate continues to outstrip supply. “We are looking forward to bringing to the market a highly sustainable, well-designed asset that is in a prime location for the UK.” Wilson Bowden and Peveril Securities is the development partner and Bowmer and Kirkland is the construction partner for the project. Logicor were advised by Cushman & Wakefield, and the developer were advised by Avison Young. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading property specialist, Towngate PLC, is gearing up to reveal its latest development — a brand-new row of industrial units, adding approximately 45,695 sq ft to the footprint of Towngate Business Centre at Manchester Road West, Walkden. With the steelwork phase and roof installation now complete, along with the commencement of the installation of the external cladding and PV Solar Panels, the project is on track for practical completion in April 2024, offering businesses an exceptional opportunity to secure modern industrial and warehouse spaces. With its £6 million+ investment, the property specialist has crossed a significant milestone in the revitalisation of the site, once home to the iconic Lucozade factory. The project not only restores the area to full capacity but also contributes to the creation of hundreds of jobs, leaving a lasting legacy. Strategically located just off Lester Road, with easy access to the M61 Motorway and key city centres, the business park is set to become a hub of economic activity. Anticipated to be ready for occupancy in spring, a series of cutting-edge units boast sizes ranging from 5,450 to 45,695 sq. ft., providing firms with an opportunity to operate from a strategically located and technologically advanced environment. Due to demand, two of the largest units are under offer on a pre-let basis, leaving available spaces ranging from 5,450 – 27,855 sq ft. New occupants of the Towngate Business Centre will benefit from a secure 30m yard area, remotely-monitored CCTV, 24-hour security, EV charging points, and ample on-site parking. The development prioritises sustainability with photovoltaic solar panels, thermally efficient cladding, air source heat pump systems, and wellness showers. With a keen focus on achieving a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating, Towngate is committed to fostering environmentally conscious workspaces. Situated in close proximity to Ellesmere Shopping Centre and Walkden Town Centre, the business centre will also provide easy access to essential amenities such as Aldi, Costa Coffee, and independent pubs and restaurants. Tom Lamb, property director for Towngate PLC, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating: “We are excited to already be seeing several enquiries for the units, and it is wonderful to have two units under offer at such an early stage. I expect there will be further interest now that they are taking shape. With a range of appealing features, we’re ensuring the units will be suited to assorted industrial sectors.” Throughout construction, Towngate PLC has been working in collaboration with Ellenby Construction, along with appointed partners, including David Stanway Associates, KPP Architects, Steven Abbott Associates, Adept, and Michael Eyres Partnership. For further information and leasing inquiries, please contact Tom Lamb, property director, or Julia Ford, marketing manager, at Towngate PLC. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Stoford has been appointed to deliver 16 hectares of commercial space in Shropshire. A development agreement has been signed with the landowner, Ruckley Estate, and Harrow Estates to bring forward the 39-hectare site on the edge of Shifnal. The scheme will adjoin the existing Shifnal Industrial Estate to the nearby Jct 3 of the M54 and forms part of the Shropshire Local Plan. More than 2.5 million sq ft of industrial/logistics accommodation has been delivered by Stoford in the last twelve months alone. Recent schemes include a 667,000 sq ft UK parts distribution centre for Stellantis at Ellesmere Port and a £93 million distribution centre in Staffordshire on behalf of Pets at Home. Andy Hartwright, land director at Stoford, said: “We look forward to working with Ruckley Estate and one of the UK’s best-in-class land promoters, Harrow Estates, to deliver this much-needed commercial development scheme. There are already several interested parties in the site given its accessible location near Telford and Wolverhampton, in a region starved of quality development opportunities.” Keith Ashbourne of Ruckley Estate, said: “This exciting development will mean jobs on the doorstep for the people of Shifnal. Having seen first hand the high quality build standards achieved by Stoford, we had no hesitation in joining forces with them.” Guy Vernon, head of land at Harrow Estates, said: “This development agreement with Stoford, a UK leading occupier-led developer, demonstrates our commitment to delivering this employment allocation. Stoford’s reputation for high-quality development, at national scale, will give further confidence to occupiers to invest in Shifnal and contribute towards its long-term prosperity east of the county.” The site is currently being marketed by Fisher German. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Chancerygate has submitted plans to speculatively build 59,500 sq ft of Grade A urban logistics and industrial space in Clayton, East Manchester. Called Eastside, the proposed scheme will comprise nine units ranging from 4,000 sq ft to 14,000 sq ft available on a freehold or leasehold basis. The projected gross development value is approximately £15m. The 2.3-acre site, which was formerly Walkers of Manchester’s printing facility, is located in Clayton under three miles east of Manchester city centre and two miles west of junction 23 of the M60 motorway. Neighbouring the proposed development is a retail scheme fronting the Ashton New Road which includes Aldi, Subway and Greggs as occupiers. Eastside sits near to the Eastlands Regeneration Area centred around Manchester City Football Club’s Etihad campus and the upcoming £365m Co-op Live entertainment venue. All units at the development will benefit from electric vehicle charging points and solar cells on their roofs which provide green energy on an affordable basis to occupiers. In addition, the units will be constructed from high-performance building materials to reduce CO2 emissions. The scheme is targeting an EPC A and BREEAM Excellent rating. Commenting on the plans, Chancerygate development director, Chris Brown, who is based in the Warrington office, said: “There’s an acute shortage of high-quality industrial and logistics accommodation for SMEs serving the East Manchester catchment. “Our proposed Eastside development will help satisfy this demand with occupiers having the rare opportunity to purchase their own building. “The development will be of appeal to a wide range of sectors, thanks to its strategic location and proximity to infrastructure links and population hubs. In turn, this will create a long-term economic asset which complements the large-scale regeneration and investment going on in the locality. “We look forward to working closely with Manchester City Council to progress our planning application and to deliver prime industrial assets to the city.” Founded in 1995, Chancerygate is the UK’s largest urban logistics property developer and asset manager and the only one operating nationwide. The company currently has around 2.65m sq ft of urban logistics space under construction or ready for development across 19 sites ranging from Edinburgh to Chichester. For more information visit www.chancerygate.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
On behalf of Stockport Council, and working with the Cheadle Town Fund Board, Network Space Developments has submitted a detailed planning application for a new Eco Business Park in Cheadle. Designed to target BREEAM Outstanding and emerging Net Zero Carbon in construction accreditation from the UK Green Building Council, the 115,000 sq ft multi-unit development at the Bird Hall Lane site will provide a flexible range of light industrial space, delivered across six units ranging from 40,000 sq ft to 10,000 sq ft. The scheme will be environmentally exemplar and market leading, incorporating low carbon technologies and building materials to facilitate net zero carbon in both construction and operation. All-electric, the buildings will use Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) technology, solar PV and externally incorporate the use of timber cladding. The scheme will appeal to a wide range of businesses, targeting occupiers operating in the clean growth and green technology sector alongside commercial occupiers seeking low carbon and highly sustainable business premises. The scheme is set to create upwards of 200 jobs once complete. Catherine Chilvers, Development Director at Network Space Developments, said: “We are delighted to have accelerated the submission of a detailed planning application for Cheadle Eco Business Park. The development expertise of Network Space and ambition of Stockport Council has unlocked the design of an innovative and environmentally exemplar scheme designed to target BREEAM Outstanding and align with emerging Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard. We have carefully designed the scheme to minimise energy demand and usage, utilise low embodied carbon building materials and enhance the wellbeing of future tenants. The scheme will proudly enable Stockport MBC as Landlord to set a new benchmark for lower carbon and sustainable industrial development in the North West.” The development is central to the Town Investment Plan, which will unlock Cheadle’s economic potential and drive clean growth, it has secured £4.4million of Government Town Fund support as part of a wider £13.9m Town Fund package alongside the Cheadle Rail Station and Active Travel projects. The next key milestone is the appointment of a preferred contractor to support a start on site early 2025. Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to provide a new green employment zone which will bring new jobs to the area with a core focus on the environment, sustainability and opportunities for clean energy generation. This project will be an important aspect of our Economic Plan and in our work on CAN (Climate Action Now). Working alongside NSD will enable us to pursue a ground breaking design in a marketplace which has typically lagged behind other sectors regarding sustainability.” Brian Bradley, Cheadle Town Board Chair, said: “On behalf of the Cheadle Town Board, we are really pleased that the Eco Business Park has reached yet another milestone in submitting a planning application. The sustainability and innovative design of the scheme demonstrate our commitment to improving the environment for Stockport’s employees and residents. The jobs created will be a major boost to the area for generations to come and we can’t wait to see the scheme on site. “Alongside the Eco Business Park the work on the new Rail Station at Cheadle is progressing well. Planning consent has recently been granted and further technical design work and modelling is being undertaken and will continue in 2024”. The project team includes architects, AEW, Spawforths planning, Tyler Grange landscape and ecology, Wilde Consulting Engineers and M&E from Kaizen Consulting. The agents appointed to the scheme are CBRE and B8. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Prologis UK, a leading owner, developer and investor of logistics property, has secured planning permission for four new units in a second phase of development at Prologis Park Beddington in Croydon, South London. Located at a prime urban logistics site, with excellent access to central London and surrounding areas, the new scheme will provide an additional 93,935 sq. ft. of high quality development. Winvic has been appointed as the main contractor, with groundworks due to start on site in May 2024. In line with Prologis’ commitment to achieve net zero by 2030 in all areas of operation, the new units will be built to a high sustainability specification, with BREEAM “Excellent” and EPC A+ target ratings. With a wealth of low-carbon design features built-in, the units will be carbon neutral in construction and net zero carbon in operation for regulated energy use. To support customers in achieving their sustainability goals, each of the new logistics facilities will include an advanced photovoltaic (PV) array within the base build, alongside being infrastructure-ready for the further installation of onsite PV and energy storage systems. They will also have electric vehicle charging infrastructure as standard. The expansion of Prologis Park Beddington Lane is good news for the local community, with the development bringing some 50 jobs during construction and around 270 jobs when the site is operational. Simon Perks, Director of Capital Deployment and Leasing at Prologis UK said: “We are delighted to reach the point of being able to implement our consent and bring phase two of Prologis Park Beddington Lane to market, continuing on from the successful completion and leasing of phase one. We would like to thank the Local Planning Authority with their involvement in getting to this stage.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Henry Boot has announced the formation of Origin, a new UK-focused industrial and logistics (I&L) platform created in partnership with Feldberg Capital, a specialist in scaling sustainability-driven real estate ventures in high-growth sectors. Origin will focus on developing next-generation, ESG-compliant I&L assets across the country. The platform is well-capitalised at launch and will primarily target the mid-box I&L market, with an initial portfolio seeded by three sites from Henry Boot Developments’ (HBD) pipeline. These sites represent a combined gross development value (GDV) of approximately £100 million, with HBD retaining a £25 million share. Under the joint venture, HBD holds a 25% stake, while Feldberg controls 75%. HBD will act as the development manager, earning fees for its role, while Feldberg will serve as the investment manager. Both parties will have the opportunity to share in promote fees tied to the JV’s internal rate of return, contingent on meeting certain hurdle rates. Seed Projects to Deliver 450,000 sq ft of Prime Space The initial developments in the Origin portfolio include three key sites, collectively capable of delivering approximately 450,000 sq ft of prime industrial and logistics space: Construction on all three projects is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2025, with delivery expected from the second half of the same year. All developments aim to achieve leading environmental standards, targeting BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC ‘A’ ratings. Looking ahead, Origin will leverage HBD’s existing development pipeline and acquire third-party sites for speculative and pre-let projects. Development finance will be sourced externally for each project, with the JV planning to deliver around £1 billion of high-quality I&L schemes across the UK over the next seven years, subject to market conditions. HBD retains the right to co-invest in future projects with the same 25:75 ownership split while continuing to serve as development manager. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Works have now completed for Units 2 and 3, Omega West, Omega Business Park in Warrington delivered by McLaren Construction Midlands and North. Unit 2, developed by Omega St Helens Limited and managed by Miller Developments with Barings as Funder, is currently being marketed to potential end users and comprises a portal steel frame building, with a single-storey office block and an extensive warehouse, the overall area of which is 300,000 sq. ft. Externally, a concrete service yard is situated to the north of the building and carparking for staff is located at the east elevation. Unit 3, funded by Aviva Life 7 Pensions UK Limited and now let to Iceland Foods Limited, is a large 510,000 sq. ft. cross dock distribution centre with 106No dock doors, two transport hubs, a Vehicle Maintenance Unit and extensive office space over two floors. The unit has provision for frozen, chilled and ambient storage within the building which will be installed as part of the upcoming Iceland fit out works. Starting in November 2022, construction works for Unit 2 (£22m) and Unit 3 (£40m), completed in October 2023. Both units have achieved a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent,’ fitting in with net zero targets, and include EV charging, 10% roof lights to warehouse and a score of 45/45 in the most recent Considerate Constructor’s audit. The McLaren Construction Midlands and North team overcame challenges during the build of Unit 2, including being in close proximity to existing overhead Scottish Power lines, meaning the Northwest corner of the build was constructed under strict controls. Exclusion limits meant that the erection of the steel frame and delivery needed to be extensively planned before execution. The challenges faced on Unit 3 included combatting poor ground conditions, managing, and removing asbestos found in the ground and completing numerous variations to the contract to meet Iceland Foods requirements, all within the original programme period. Providing social value-added opportunities, the contractor invited work experience candidates to join the Omega team, including 3No local trainees, a 1No trainee administrator, a 1No trainee site manager, alongside employing locally with the appointment of document controller, Rebekah Morris, and community and supply chain coordinator, Sarah Caine. Community workshops were also carried out during the build, with the involvement of local councils and charities and alongside this, McLaren Construction sponsored Martin Murray’s ThinkFAST academy to provide support and development for young people through the discipline and ethos of boxing. Teaming up with Miller Developments, £30,000 was donated to the St Helens-based Martin Murray Academy to help hard-to-reach young people with high quality social support and development through the ThinkFAST programme. Gary Cramp, managing director of McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said: “We’re pleased with the completion of the second and third units of this pivotal logistics scheme and our teams have worked hard to deliver a high-quality end product. “Alongside the builds, we’ve worked with the local community to provide a range of social value-added opportunities, including supporting the fantastic work of Martin Murray’s ThinkFAST programme.” David Milloy, a Director of Omega St Helens Limited and Managing Director of Miller Developments said: “This was the second project we appointed McLaren Construction to build. The quality was first class and Gary’s team were both helpful and accommodating throughout.”
