JW FILSHILL, one of Scotland’s oldest independent food and drink wholesalers, has completed its relocation from Hillington to its purpose-built distribution centre at Westway near Glasgow Airport. The phased move kickstarts an exciting period of growth for the fifth-generation family business that supplies KeyStore convenience stores across Scotland and the north of England plus national accounts including the Scottish Prison Service. It also has 1,600 independent customers. Filshill, which last year ramped up investment ahead of its move to its new distribution centre with the acquisition of the independent Iain Hill Ltd wholesale business, has relocated its distribution centre and head office in order to future-proof the business. Simon Hannah, Filshill’s chief executive officer, said that the new 120,400 sq ft depot at Westway will allow the wholesaler to increase its operational capacity and open more stores in Scotland and the north of England, from Wick in the far north to Doncaster in south Yorkshire. “Operating out of these bespoke premises, which have been designed to our exact specification as part of our 10-year growth strategy, will improve our efficiency and productivity as we invest in the long-term success of the company, protect future revenue streams and increase customer satisfaction,” he said. “We are an award-winning wholesaler with ambitious growth plans and our new distribution centre puts us in an ideal position to achieve our ambitions, expand the KeyStore estate, and work in partnership with our customers and suppliers for mutual benefit.” Mr Hannah said that the acquisition of Iain Hill, a wholesaler with a strong foothold in soft drinks, confectionery, snacks and other impulse products, had bolstered Filshill’s modern fleet of vehicles as well as strengthening its pool of experienced staff. “While we are disappointed that the pandemic and unforeseen planning issues delayed our move to Westway, we are delighted to now be fully operational as a business from what is one of the most modern and efficient food and drink distribution depots in the UK. “Westway is the culmination of considerable planning to create the infrastructure that will enable us to recognise our ambitions and we will use the facility to drive unrivalled operational efficiency and promote the keenest prices as we aspire to become the most frictionless wholesaler in Scotland for our customers and suppliers to do business with. “Incorporating the high-level skills of our people across the business and the most up-to-date technology and equipment, Westway marks the start of a new phase of a journey for the Filshill family that started in Paisley in 1875.” The 16-metre-high warehouse – which has 211 solar panels covering 400 sqm of roof space – has 12 loading docks and an innovative four-floor pick tower which can hold approximately 1,520 pallets and, in addition, standard storage racking with capacity to hold 8,650 pallets. Gravity-fed live racking benefits from a semi-automated shuttle system which holds 1,155 pallets of Filshill’s fastest-selling products, generating significant operational efficiency. Filshill, meanwhile, has developed the new distribution centre in adherence to its long-established strategy around benchmarking its carbon footprint, identifying areas where it can positively influence a reduction in its carbon impact and work towards a net-zero emissions position. “We are delighted to see Filshill’s fantastic new purpose-built facility officially open here at Westway” said Rob Large, director of Canmoor. “It is a tremendous endorsement to Westway and we are thrilled to assist Filshill in facilitating its exciting and ambitious expansion plans in both UK and international markets.” In the last financial year, driven by Filshill’s environmental team, the company saw a reduction of 9% in its intensity ratio measure of carbon per case delivered. The new premises provide electric vehicle charging points and a wildflower garden is being created. Beehives are also being put in place. The distribution centre has also been designed with the comfort of staff in mind with internal office accommodation carefully created to make the most of natural light and provide colleagues with a comfortable working environment that will help boost both productivity and mental health. Filshill’s 10-year strategy focuses heavily on engagement with its workforce on health and wellbeing, particularly with regard to mental health. “This remains at the heart of our strategy and we recognise that as a responsible employer we need to do this not only for our employees and their families but also because of the positive impact it has on our business and our customers. “Our safety-first culture is a cornerstone of everything we do and our workforce retention and ability to recruit has been positively impacted by these initiatives. The new working environment at Westway will further cement this commitment.” Filshill saw turnover increase to £200 million – up 4.4% from £191 million – in the year ending January 31, 2022. Operating profits increased from £2.3 million to £2.7 million while it recorded gross profit of £17 million with net assets growing to £17.1 million compared to £15.2 million the previous year, an increase of 12.6%. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Commercial developer, Brackley Property Developments (BPD) has secured funding for the construction of a new industrial/warehouse building on a two-acre development site in Northamptonshire. The commercial developer has entered into a full forward funding agreement with specialist property investment firm, Leftfield for the speculative development of the new unit at Cockerell Road in Corby. Work has commenced on the development, which gained planning consent from North Northamptonshire Council towards the end of last year. The new 43,000 sq ft unit will contain two dock loading doors, two level access sectional overhead doors and ancillary office space, as well as staff and visitor parking. It is programmed for completion in Q3 2023. Stephen Pedrick-Moyle, managing director of BPD, said: “This is an exciting mid-box development opportunity in a prominent, well located site. The new unit will offer occupiers the chance to secure high quality industrial/warehouse accommodation north of Corby town centre and within close proximity of a large local labour supply. “We are very pleased to further our relationship with Leftfield, following our development of 110,000 sq ft of new industrial accommodation at Leftfield Park in Walsall.” Nico Fourie, chief executive of Leftfield Advisors, said: “Leftfield Fund III continues to accumulate strategic assets in key locations. Our conviction to the sector requires quality buildings, which attract strong covenants. We are delighted to work closely again with BPD on this new project.”Cockerell Road is an established commercial location, with occupiers including Wickes and Andrews Building Supplies. The nearby A6003 provides direct access to junction 7 of the A14 dual carriageway and main arterial routes. TDB Real Estate acted on behalf of BPD and Bampton Satchwell Bull (BSB) acted on behalf of Leftfield. Prop-Search advised the vendor during the original site acquisition process. For all enquiries please contact retained letting agents, Christian Smith at Savills or Oliver Thompson of TDB Real Estate.   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Wilton Developments has purchased the 33-acre Dynamo Park site on Cheltenham Road in Stockton-On-Tees for an undisclosed sum. The developer behind the successful 70-acre Turbine Business Park in Sunderland intends to capitalise on its extensive experience in the region to deliver another high quality commercial scheme, as part of its commitment to logistics and industrial space in the Northern Power House. The scheme has the capability to deliver circa 600,000 sq. ft. of industrial, storage and warehouse space on a prime A19 frontage, adjacent to the junction for the popular retail and trade location at Portrack Lane. The site benefits from an outline planning permission for almost 400,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and reserved matters (detailed) permission for circa 220,000 sq. ft. Together this could foster more than 1,070 jobs on the site, with many more in associated supply chains linked to the scheme. Jason Stowe, Managing Director of Wilton Developments, said: “The scheme will deliver high quality employment space, job opportunities, inward investment and economic growth in the area, capitalising on the lack of available opportunities in the wider north east for businesses wanting to upgrade their facilities to new levels of design and ESG credentials. “The acquisition provides a great opportunity to deliver a variety of industrial, storage and warehouse space adjacent to the A19.” Wilton Developments is active across the north of England, where the company has delivered prime new build and refurbished commercial space, including the recently completed Latitude logistics development on the M62 near Leeds and Enterprise Park in Barnsley, both for CBRE Investment Managers. The company is also behind the recently completed four unit scheme at Turbine Business Park for Block Industrial and the forthcoming Leeds 500, which is the largest single unit distribution scheme in the city, with reserved matters consent providing approximately 500,000 sq. ft. of BREEAM Excellent logistics/industrial space alongside the M1 at Junction 47. The company also secured the largest single reserved matters planning permission in the UK for 1.15 million sq. ft. of industrial space at Doncaster North, as part of a 2.26 million sq ft of reserved matters consents in the first phase. These consents are part of Wilton’s wider 3.5 million sq ft industrial and logistics development close to the M62/M18 interchange which is set to create around 8,500 jobs for the region. More information will be available at the UKREiiF in Leeds this May, where Wilton Developments will be exhibiting and speaking. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

GMI Construction Group PLC has completed a 260,000 square foot medical distribution centre in West Yorkshire. The facility at Wakefield Hub has been built on behalf of developer HBD and Yorkcourt for PHOENIX Group and will serve the NHS and pharmacies across the UK. The build programme generated around 150 construction jobs and the completed facility has the potential to create 100 new jobs. Constructed over 12 months, it features 22 dock level loading bays and seven level access doors to enable the productive arrival and distribution of medical products. The building is also highly energy efficient, with the inclusion of solar PV panels and 46 electric car charging bays.  It also sits among landscaped grounds incorporating a balancing pond plus improvements to surrounding paths and bridleways. Wakefield Hub is a prime location for industrial and logistics operators, boasting unrivalled access to the M62, M1 and A1. Existing occupiers include Kitwave Wholesale Group and Newcold.  It is being delivered in joint venture by HBD and Yorkcourt and, spanning 200-acres, is one of the largest regeneration projects of its kind in the North of England. Andrew Hurcomb, Managing Director Yorkshire at GMI Construction, said: “This has been another landmark project for GMI both in terms of the benefits it will bring to PHOENIX, its pharmacies and their customers, but also as another important investment in the Yorkshire economy.  “This project is generating valuable employment opportunities and further enhancing the area’s reputation as a key logistical hub.  We are proud to have delivered this scheme as part of our longstanding relationship with HBD and its JV partner Yorkcourt.” Tom Wheldon, Director and Head of Region at HBD, said: “We’re pleased to be able to welcome PHOENIX Group to Wakefield Hub – its new purpose-built base coupled with unrivalled access to the motorway network will no doubt prove a successful new location as it targets further growth.” Scott Mackie, Director at Yorkcourt, said: “PHEONIX is an excellent addition to Wakefield Hub and their choice to open here, along with the successful forward funding agreement with clients of Abrdn, is not only a vote of confidence in the scheme but in the region as a place to invest. It’s very positive news for the city.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, has been appointed by commercial property developer, Stoford, to deliver two industrial warehouses. This second development phase at Redditch Gateway will complete the 78-acre site, near Junction 3 of the M42, south of Birmingham. Works commenced on 13 March and handover is scheduled for the end of 2023. Stoford and Winvic are targeting Net Zero Carbon in operation for both buildings, as well as BREEAM Excellent and an EPC ‘A’ rating. BIM Level 2 is being utilised to help achieve these goals, but also to accelerate the end-to-end process, identify and resolve construction package clashes rapidly, and help end-users to efficiently operate in line with the building’s design intent.  One industrial warehouse is 142,100 sq ft with two-storey offices totalling 18,400 sq ft and the second comprises 257,100 sq ft of warehouse and 29,600 sq ft of three-storey office space. They have been designed to meet the widest of occupier demands with 50 kN/m2 floor loading capacities and 15m clear heights, as well as access to high-power supplies of 9.5MVA, more than six times the institutional standard. The earthwork programme to create the development plateaus has begun and will comprise 108,000m3 of cut and fill and the diversion of two courses of Blacksoil brook, which currently cross the site. The foundations will be installed from May and the eight-week steel frame erection programme commences in July. Ecological enhancements to grasslands will also be undertaken as part of the project. The industrial facilities have been forward funded by specialist European independent real estate investor, Blackbrook, which will acquire the freehold interest in both new developments upon their completion in Q4 2023. Phase one of Redditch Gateway saw the development of a new 534,000 sq ft warehouse building that was pre-let to Amazon and included a £6.5 million investment in infrastructure works and a signalised traffic junction. Winvic is also currently constructing and fitting out a 667,000 sq ft UK parts distribution centre at Ellesmere Port for Stoford, which will be complete in winter 2023 and has pre-let to Peugeot. Danny Nelson, Winvic’s Head of Industrial, Distribution and Logistics, said: “We have built a relationship with Stoford over a number of years, and I’d like to thank them for once again appointing Winvic as their construction partner. The latest approach to digital design is being employed on the Redditch Gateway scheme and it’s facilitated faster and clearer insights and solutions across the design, materials, construction programmes and sustainability. The team has already made some great progress in the past week preparing for the watercourse diversion and we look forward to handing over the two facilities in December 2023.” Stoford Joint Managing Director, Dan Gallagher said: “We are developing two highly specified logistics assets with Blackbrook, that will offer significant benefits to occupiers in terms of connectivity, power supply and future-proof ESG credentials. Redditch Gateway is an exciting logistics manufacturing development in a key distribution area that is serving demand in a supply constrained regional marketplace. Winvic is a long-term, trusted partner and we are looking forward to seeing these quality assets rise out of the ground in the coming months.” Jon Strang, Managing Director of Blackbrook, said: “We’re delighted with Stoford’s progress on this project and to be closer to bringing two new logistic facilities to the market. Both assets boast a high power supply and are being built to the highest sustainability standards, making them high in demand and perfectly aligned with Blackbrook’s strategy to develop future-proof supply chain infrastructure.” For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit Twitter @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn.   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Prologis, the UK’s leading developer of logistics property, has signed an agreement with Hankook Tyre UK Ltd, to provide a new build-to-suit unit at Prologis Apex Park, in Daventry. Hankook Tire & Technology is one of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers and its UK subsidiary has used the location of Daventry, including Apex Park, as its main distribution hub. The company has agreed terms to take DC9, a brand new, high spec unit comprising 357,221 sq. ft. on a 22-acre site on the park. Construction is scheduled to complete in early 2024. Since entering the highly competitive UK tyre market in 1993, Hankook has been recognised as an industry leader – in product performance, innovation, productivity and sustainability. This new development forms part of the organisation’s plans to continue to grow its UK business. Prologis Apex Park is part of a thriving employment area on the northern edge of Daventry in Northamptonshire. The site, which sits within the logistics ‘golden triangle’ at the heart of the UK’s motorway and rail network, has convenient access to the A45, M1 and M45, as well as the rail freight facilities located at nearby Prologis RFI DIRFT. Other Prologis customers at Apex Park include Toolstation, JD Wetherspoon, Hellmann Logistics, Optima Logistics and Cummins. Construction of DC9 at Apex Park for Hankook is another example of Prologis’ ability to offer customer-centric development – with the unit size and specification tailored to meet Hankook’s requirements from the outset. James Straw, Associate, Capital Deployment and Leasing at Prologis UK, said: “Hankook has been a customer of ours at Apex Park for a number of years and so it’s fantastic to be able to work with the business to provide a new state of the art logistics facility for their future growth and expansion. At Prologis we have a strong track record of delivering build to suit projects and are constantly looking at ways to improve our buildings. We are delighted to be delivering a building which will meet Hankook’s high expectations both operationally and from a sustainability perspective. Construction will soon be underway and like Hankook, we can’t wait to see DC9 come out of the ground.” Chang Yool Han, Managing Director of Hankook Tyre UK, said: “Apex Park was the obvious choice for our growth as it meant we were able to provide continuity for our existing staff, and execute our growth in the utmost sustainable and ecofriendly manner plus it serves as an excellent central location for the UK market that we supply. We have been working with our advisors Drake & Partners and Excello Law for a significant period to understand our current and future requirements to grow the business and Prologis have also worked closely with us to accommodate what we need. Moving into DC9 is a significant step on our growth journey and we are looking forward to working with Prologis further”. DC9 at Prologis Apex Park is due to start imminently, with completion expected in early 2024. Prologis were advised by ILP Partners, Cushman & Wakefield and Colliers. Hankook was advised by Drake & Partners. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Leading commercial property developer, Stoford, has begun the second and final phase of development at a multimillion pound logistics and manufacturing scheme in the West Midlands. Stoford has commenced construction of two new Grade A warehouse buildings that will deliver almost 450,000 sq ft of logistics accommodation at Redditch Gateway, near Junction 3 of the M42, south of Birmingham. The prime logistics assets have been forward funded by specialist European independent real estate investor, Blackbrook, which will acquire the freehold interest in both new developments upon their completion in Q4 2023. The new units will comprise 160,208 sq ft and 286,328 sq ft respectively and are being built on the southern parcel of the 78-acre Redditch Gateway site. They have been designed to meet the widest of occupier demands with 50 kN/m2 floor loading capacities and 15m clear heights, as well as access to high-power supplies of 9.5MVA, more than six times the institutional standard. Stoford is targeting net zero carbon in operation for both buildings, as well as BREEAM Excellent and an EPC ‘A’ rating. Winvic Construction has been appointed as contractor to deliver the works. Stoford Joint Managing Director, Dan Gallagher said: “We are developing two highly specified logistics assets with Blackbrook, that will offer significant benefits to occupiers in terms of connectivity, power supply and future-proof ESG credentials. “Redditch Gateway is an exciting logistics manufacturing development in a key distribution area that is serving demand in a supply constrained regional marketplace.” Jon Strang, Managing Director of Blackbrook, said: “We’re delighted with Stoford’s progress on this project and to be closer to bringing two new logistic facilities to the market. Both assets boast a high power supply and are being built to the highest sustainability standards, making them high in demand and perfectly aligned with Blackbrook’s strategy to develop future-proof supply chain infrastructure.” Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “It is brilliant news to see construction start on the new units at the Redditch Gateway site. Redditch Gateway is one of Worcestershire’s major commercial property developments, part of our 2040 Plan for Growth, to provide more commercial space for businesses. “This development is helping to attract businesses to the region, boosting local jobs and crucially the economy for Worcestershire.” Anita Bhalla, Interim Chair of GBSLEP, said: “This latest development demonstrates how our £1.8 million funding towards Redditch Gateway has unlocked a site which continues to deliver developments in the area. This latest scheme will generate jobs which will support the inclusive and sustainable economic growth of the local economy. This investment demonstrates how GBSLEP’s unique structure of bringing public, private and academic leaders together to make locally informed decisions creates opportunities for our businesses and communities.” Leader of Redditch Borough Council, Cllr Matt Dormer, said: “We have to look to the future and not only will these units attract highly specialised companies, creating jobs for our residents, they have zero carbon credentials which is important to this Council and the environment. This Council promised progress – and we are delivering.” Tim Davies, Senior Development Manager, Homes England, said: “Stoford have been working with us and partners to deliver this site for almost ten years. Having dealt with numerous challenges to be able to commence construction of these two units is testament to their capability and capacity.” Redditch Gateway is located on the eastern fringes of Redditch, just 18 miles from Birmingham Airport and with convenient access to the national motorway network via J2 and J3 of the M42. Phase one of the scheme saw the development of a new 534,000 sq ft warehouse building that was pre-let to Amazon and included a £6.5 million investment in infrastructure works and a signalised traffic junction. Stoford is development partner for Redditch Gateway South, working alongside landowners, The Gorcott Trust and Homes England. For more information, please contact retained marketing agents, DTRE and Savills. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Partners and stakeholders recently gathered at The Glass Futures’ Global Centre of Excellence in St Helens to mark the imminent completion of the £54m project, managed and delivered by Network Space Developments (NSD). Contractor Bowmer + Kirkland were appointed by NSD in December 2021 and started on site in January 2022. The main contract works will successfully complete this month and the 165,000 sq. ft building handed over to Glass Futures, ready for the internal fit out works to commence in April. The building is anticipated to be operational later this year. Delivery of the project has been managed by landowner and developer NSD, on behalf of a partnership including not-for-profit Glass Futures, St Helens Borough Council, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and UKRI (UK Research & Innovation). The facility was pre let to St Helens Borough Council on a 15-year head lease and sub-let to Glass Futures which will occupy the building to deliver industry and government-backed research and development projects focused on decarbonising the glass and foundation industries. It will also provide a platform for its members  to access an experimental scale furnace for testing and trials of new technology on a state-of-the-art line, both collaboratively and individually. In 2022, NSD pre-sold the building to global investor Standard Life Investments Property Income Trust, part of abrdn, to secure forward funding and conclude a viable delivery strategy. Throughout the construction phase, the scheme has made a significant contribution to the local economy with £11.2m of supply contracts going to businesses within a 20-mile radius of the site, including more than £1m awarded to St Helens’ businesses. Overall, 441 operatives and sub-contractors have been employed on the scheme, including 30 apprentices, with 36 per cent of the labour coming from St Helens, Wigan and Warrington communities. Glass Futures has also appointed its first three apprentices. “Catherine Chilvers, Development Director at Network Space Developments, said: “We’re delighted that we will shortly complete this transformational scheme within the ambitious project timescales we originally set ourselves. The success of this project is testament to the incredible partnership we’ve helped establish and the hard work and commitment of everyone involved in driving this scheme forward.  As a St Helens based business, we’re hugely proud to be involved in a project of this importance and we look forward to seeing its impact, benefits and grow on opportunities being realised within the Borough. “Throughout the construction phase, we’ve worked closely with St Helens Council and contractor B&K to maximise local and regional economic benefits. It’s very pleasing to see the employment and apprenticeship opportunities that have been created and the positive school and community engagement that’s been delivered.” St Helens Borough Council Leader, Councillor David Baines, said: “ It’s incredible to think that this is a project which has only been a few years in the making, and the speed at which it’s happened is testament to a lot of hard work by a lot of people, from the initial idea and drive of people like Richard Katz, to Network Space and Bowmer and Kirkland and all those whose physical labour has built the amazing setting we see today. “Glass Futures also chose St Helens because our history, location, and potential speaks for itself. They know of our town centre regeneration plans; they know about our work to deliver social value, to create local jobs and develop the skills this industry and other modern industries need; and above all else, our ambition and theirs is equally high – for the borough and wider region, and not to forget the small matters of reaching net zero carbon and revolutionising the global glass industry. “In St Helens and the city region we’ve put our money where our mouth is and backed this project to the hilt. I’m serious when I talk about our ambition for St Helens and this project is a key part of our wider plans. Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City region, added: “Building on St Helens’ proud legacy in the glassmaking industry, Glass Futures will help retain the borough’s position as a global centre of excellence. I’m proud that we’ve been able to help make it happen with £9m of city region funding. “I have supported Glass Futures right from the very start, not just because it’s a great project but because it ticks so many boxes for us: decarbonisation of industry, clean energy, new well-paid jobs in a scheme that will make us a world leader. “If we are to hit our ambitious targets to be net zero carbon by 2040 at the latest, at least a decade ahead of national targets, then we will need transformative projects like this to help us – and the planet – get there.” Richard Katz, Chief Executive of Glass Futures concluded: “Ten years ago the founding members of Glass Futures had the idea of building a Global Centre of Excellence to make glass the low-carbon material of choice. We each subscribed to a powerful idea which has since attracted major government innovation funding and industry support leading to the completion of the build phase of the project which will become our new home. “But for us this handover is just the start. We’ll now begin an internal fit out and will install the world’s first openly accessible furnace to test commercially viable technology, which should be operational by January 2024. Capable of producing up to 30 tonnes of glass per day, we’ll be able to collaborate with our global membership, academic researchers and industry leaders to continue our ground-breaking trials into alternative energy sources, raw materials and technologies to demonstrate real decarbonisation solutions for the foundation industries.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals