Architects are increasingly specifying industrial protection equipment for warehouses and distribution centres. Paul Roehricht of Brandsafe provides guidance on best practice. Distribution and logistics are dynamic sectors that’s forecast to be worth over $325 billion by the end of 2024. In the UK alone, one leading commercial property group* reports
Knight Property Group has just completed the comprehensive £20 million redevelopment and refurbishment of 4-5 Lochside Avenue in Edinburgh Park. The 43,000 sq ft pavilion-style building achieved practical completion this week and sets the standard for sustainable office redevelopment in Edinburgh Park, offering open-plan Grade A office accommodation, ranging from
A BRAND-NEW state-of-the-art flour mill and warehouse – the largest to be constructed in the UK in recent years – has been completed for GR Wright & Sons in Harlow, Essex, by Clegg Food Projects, specialists in the construction of food and drink facilities. Clegg Food Projects was appointed as the principal contractor
Construction has started on an innovative, carbon-neutral development scheme at SEGRO Park Dagenham, part of the East Plus regeneration programme being delivered in partnership with the Greater London Authority. The units at Plot 1, which will range from 1,620 to 6,730 sq ft, are being built speculatively to provide high-quality
North West Leicestershire District Council Leaders visit to see employment and skills initiatives in action Following the launch of the on-site ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre at Mercia Park, Winvic Construction Ltd – a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering
Rosendin, the nation’s largest employee-owned electrical contracting company with a regional office in Tempe, has been selected as the electrical contractor for Facebook’s Mesa Data Center project. Rosendin will work with general contractor DPR Construction to build the data center building and site infrastructure located 20 miles east of Phoenix.
SEGRO V-Park Grand Union will deliver 134,500 sq ft of light industrial space over six storeys The development forms part of Grand Union, a vibrant new canalside neighbourhood of over 3,000 homes being delivered by St George located in Alperton, close to Park Royal St George, a leading mixed use
Waterloo have strengthened their product offering by replacing their displacement range with the full portfolio of Swegon displacement products. By integrating a range of airborne products from the Swegon group, the supplier of air terminal devices can deliver the widest range of room unit products in the UK market. The new range of displacement terminals are made to effectively
Significant new project will see development of two new speculative logistics/warehouse units of 149,000 and 41,000 sq ft… GMI Construction has announced that it has been instructed by leading logistics development company Tritax Symmetry to develop a huge new speculative logistics/warehouse scheme at a site in Middlewich known as MA6NITUDE.
MCM Group is delighted to announce that Unit 12, a 38,000 sq ft warehouse at Felnex Road off Pontefract Lane, Leeds, is to be redeveloped creating a new high specification, industrial property suitable for use as a storage and distribution facility or trade counter. Planning permission has just been granted
Architects are increasingly specifying industrial protection equipment for warehouses and distribution centres. Paul Roehricht of Brandsafe provides guidance on best practice. Distribution and logistics are dynamic sectors that’s forecast to be worth over $325 billion by the end of 2024. In the UK alone, one leading commercial property group* reports that investment in UK industrial and logistics totalled a record £6bn in H1 2021, more than double the £2.7bn recorded in the same period of 2020 and up 54% on the previous record period in 2018. It also forecasts that the UK will require an extra 92 million sq. ft. of warehousing space over the next three years. The demand for online grocery sales alone will account for 7.1 million sq. ft. of this additional space. So, what does all this demand mean for warehouses now and in the future? One thing for certain is that continuing best practice around health and safety in industrial environments that are becoming ever busier will be crucial. People and property need to be protected and architects and others responsible for these designs, need to understand how they can facilitate better, safer and more effective workplaces for their clients. Under UK law, employers must observe a duty of care to their workforce: they must identify the risks each person faces at work and plan accordingly. Specification A key part of best practice involving specification for new warehouses, or even improving or expanding existing ones, centres around the efficiency and sustainability of the property – clients are ultimately looking for a premises that runs as safely and efficiently as possible. The Health and Safety Executive’s HSG76 advises on a number of areas that need to be taken into account when planning the layout of a site so that ‘…pedestrians and vehicles can circulate safely. Where vehicles and pedestrians use the same traffic route, there should be adequate separation between them’. This involves the installation of clear signage and floor markings, which are crucial to the safe and efficient movement of people, vehicles and machinery around the industrial workspace.HSG76 also recommends combining this clearly discernible signage with guardrails and pedestrian handrails used to create clear segregation and traffic routes. Racking and storage is another area where incremental gains in safety can be achieved in a relatively straightforward and cost-effective manner. The application of clip-on protection to rack ends and any sharp edges of units will for example, protect people, vehicles and the units themselves from impact and collision damage. Careful consideration should also be given to choosing the right products supplier. First and foremost, it is critical that they must offer products appropriate for the project. This might seem somewhat obvious, but it is not uncommon for some safety products to look good on paper only to lack the necessary performance characteristics that make them suitable for the required application. Here, opt for products whose performance has been assessed and verified through independent testing – this will always be a good starting point and a clear indicative of suitability. A good supplier should be able to advise an architect on the performance requirements for each system on a project-by-project basis, which will allow you to tailor your designs to the exact needs of the end user. This is where it benefits to partner with a supplier which has an in-house surveying and design team; they can directly support you and make it easier to create bespoke solutions for each project. Requisite expertise Looking further down the project timeline, it will make life easier for the appointed main contractor if your safety system supplier is able to deploy its own installation teams. They will be best placed to assist on-site, helping to make sure that the project is completed within the desired timescales and budget. They will also have the requisite technical knowledge to deal with any issues on-site during the installation process, adding further to fast turnaround times and efficiencies. It’s important to bear in mind that the end client is duty-bound by Regulation 3 of The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) to ‘…make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work’. An experienced supplier will be well positioned to offer advice and insight when it comes to producing a comprehensive risk assessment for the project site in question. It is also worth considering the strategic partnerships of the supplier when the relevant products are required for your project. Ultimately, architects and specifiers will want to work with fast and responsive suppliers; organisations that can guide and advise based on project requirements through a consultative approach. Health and safety is a critical component of any modern, well-managed warehouse or logistics operation and there is always room for improvement when it comes to safeguarding and protecting people, and mitigating risk. In short, specification of effective safety solutions is simply good business. A RIBA-approved CPD seminar for architects on industrial safety solutions is available from Brandsafe. Details at www.brandsafeprotection.com * https://www.savills.co.uk/research_articles/229130/315446-0
Knight Property Group has just completed the comprehensive £20 million redevelopment and refurbishment of 4-5 Lochside Avenue in Edinburgh Park. The 43,000 sq ft pavilion-style building achieved practical completion this week and sets the standard for sustainable office redevelopment in Edinburgh Park, offering open-plan Grade A office accommodation, ranging from 14,000 to 43,000 sq ft, configured over three floors. Knight took the decision to comprehensively remodel, redevelop and refurbish the building rather than demolish it, thus supporting a ‘RetroFirst’ approach to provide fossil fuel free, zero direct emissions office accommodation, aligned to Net Zero targets and Scottish Government ‘New Build Heat Standards’. It has also achieved UK Green Building Council 2025-2030 interim targets for operational energy use. The building is the only all electric newly completed development in Edinburgh at present and features a host of sustainability and well-being enhancements, including EPC ‘B+’ rating, all electric air-conditioning delivered via air source head pump technology, 100% ventilated fresh air delivered to the working environment, solar PV panels mounted on the roof, electric car charging points and intelligent LED lighting on all floors. With workforce health and wellness firmly in mind, it has achieved best practice in terms of ‘Wellness’, offering a safe and secure, Covid-friendly, green and sustainable environment that also features 60 bike spaces with maintenance facilities. James Barrack, Founder and Chairman of Knight Property Group said: “Our original vision was to redevelop the building to an extremely high standard, offering occupiers a contemporary and modern working environment, but crucially all set within a highly sustainable and net carbon neutral office. “We are totally committed to take action on climate change and sustainability and this is embedded in the core culture of our business and at the heart of all our developments. “4-5 Lochside Avenue is one of the strongest buildings in Edinburgh Park and achieving completion and delivering it during the pandemic is a significant milestone and we are very proud of the sustainable standards it has achieved.” Cameron Stott, Director of JLL added: “Sustainability and wellness are quite rightly now pre-requisite requirements for occupiers and Knight really grasped and embraced this agenda throughout the development of 4-5 Lochside Avenue. “It is now one of the strongest and most sustainable properties in Edinburgh Park and we anticipate strong occupier demand for the space.” Angela Lowe, Senior Director of CBRE agrees: “We anticipate that 4-5 Lochside Avenue will be an attractive prospect for many occupiers due to the high specification, strong environmental credentials and excellent connectivity. “With immediate access to ‘The Lawn’, an attractive landscaped space and plentiful fresh air, there is ample opportunity for staff to prioritise their health and well-being.” 4-5 Lochside Avenue was originally purchased in January 2020 from LaSalle Investment Management and sits on a three-acre site in the heart of Edinburgh Park. It offers excellent access to various means of public transport, with multiple bus routes and Edinburgh Park Central tram stop being less than three minutes walk away, linking to the city centre and Edinburgh International Airport. With 11 dedicated electric car charging points and 234 dedicated car parking spaces, it provides excellent connectivity, with immediate access to the City bypass (A720), which in turn connects with Scotland’s motorway network. Edinburgh Park is home to 7,000 employees with surrounding occupiers including JP Morgan, Regus, HSBC and Royal Bank of Scotland. Edinburgh Park benefits from good local amenities, including the Gyle Shopping Centre and Hermiston Gait Retail Park. JLL and CBRE are letting agents for Knight Property Group at 4-5 Lochside Avenue. Further information on can be found at: https://knightpropertygroup.co.uk/development/4-5-lochside-avenue/ The main contractor on this project was Clark Contracts and the architect was Space Solutions. M&E design was provided by Troup Bywaters & Anders, QS and contract administrator services were provided by Axiom and the structural engineer was Christie Gillespie.
A BRAND-NEW state-of-the-art flour mill and warehouse – the largest to be constructed in the UK in recent years – has been completed for GR Wright & Sons in Harlow, Essex, by Clegg Food Projects, specialists in the construction of food and drink facilities. Clegg Food Projects was appointed as the principal contractor for the project, responsible for the overall design and construction of the mill and warehousing facility. This included extensive ground preparation, the civil and structural build, and the installation of the specialist processing and milling equipment. With work initially beginning on site in December 2018, the project was separated into three phases. First the construction of the mill, warehouse, and the sites mechanical and electrical services, secondly the wheat and flour silo installations, and finally the milling processing and packing equipment installation. The completed development, which spans across six floors and is more than 30m tall, includes the latest in milling processing and packaging technologies – which was provided by Buhler – and will help to future-proof the business as it continues to build on its successes. Oliver Jenkins, business development manager at Clegg Food Projects, said: “We’re delighted to have completed the mill for one of the UK’s leading millers. It has been a fantastic project to be involved with on many levels. Working with a family-owned business steeped in history has been a privilege and knowing that this new facility will support their future growth is very rewarding.” James Wright, production director at GR Wright & Sons, said: “This new facility will not only allow us to continue as one of the UK’s leading flour mills, but will also help us to attract talented individuals to join the sector. With flour being a key ingredient in nearly 30% of all grocery products on supermarket shelves, we have experienced an increased demand over the last few years, so this development will help us to fulfil the nation’s requirements for years to come.” GR Wright & Sons is London’s only family-owned flour mill and has more than 150 years’ experience and expertise producing a wide variety of flour choices and bread mixes. With roughly 12 million loaves of bread, two million pizzas and ten million cakes made in Britain each day, this new facility is one of the largest of its kind in the UK. Clegg Food Projects – part of the Clegg Group – has more than 40 years’ experience in the food and drink sector. Headquartered in Nottingham, the firm works nationally and internationally with household brands to design and build top quality manufacturing facilities. For further information visit www.cleggfoodprojects.co.uk or follow @CleggFoodP on Twitter.
Construction has started on an innovative, carbon-neutral development scheme at SEGRO Park Dagenham, part of the East Plus regeneration programme being delivered in partnership with the Greater London Authority. The units at Plot 1, which will range from 1,620 to 6,730 sq ft, are being built speculatively to provide high-quality commercial space and bring business and employment opportunities to the east London regions. The scheme provides an alternative and complementary product type to others in the East Plus portfolio but takes inspiration from the success of the Enterprise Quarter at SEGRO Park Rainham – a development that offers leases for modern industrial units to small and start-up customers and is also part of the East Plus regeneration scheme. Once fully developed, the overall SEGRO Park Dagenham scheme will offer 1.2 million sq ft of sustainable, industrial and warehouse space in a variety of unit sizes from 1,620 to 233,000 sq ft. In line with the Responsible SEGRO commitment to champion low carbon growth, each of the 13 units will be designed to achieve BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) ‘Very Good’ and Carbon Neutral status. Sustainability features such as battery storage, electric car charging points, roof mounted photovoltaic panels and LED lighting will also be incorporated. The units will be available in Spring 2022. SEGRO Park Dagenham is a new industrial park that will offer freehold, leasehold, design and build and spec build opportunities to the area. A range of accommodation and unit sizes will be provided, suitable for start-ups, traditional light industrial and urban logistics customers. The development will also support the wider regeneration of Dagenham Dock – providing relocation space for local displaced businesses, supporting housing development programmes and generating business investment and jobs within the borough. As part of the masterplan and wider regeneration, SEGRO will be bringing forward multi-levels to meet GLA’s requirements for intensification of industrial land in the area. Alan Holland, Managing Director, Greater London at SEGRO said: “We work hard to ensure that SEGRO is an integral part of the communities in which we operate, and this is a great example of how we are contributing to long-term vitality in East London by offering a wider range of real estate options for local SMEs. “Once fully let, Plot 1 at SEGRO Park Dagenham will become a self-sustaining collective of businesses, which could generate over 1,000 jobs. “Furthermore, working with our contractors, customers, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and other stakeholders we will use the development as a catalyst to maximise training and employment opportunities for the local community.” Elsewhere at SEGRO Park Dagenham, the company recently completed a building on Plot 5 of the estate for The Capital Dairy Company. The unit provides a 20,000 sq ft design and build unit for a local occupier which is relocating from Thames Road, Barking. SEGRO Park Dagenham is located in the south of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, within the area currently known as Dagenham dock, which is fast becoming a first-class industrial and distribution location due to growing demand. The site benefits from excellent road connections and close proximity to central London, with easy access to Junction 31 of the M25 in just 11 minutes and the A13 in 3 minutes. The Port of Tilbury and London Gateway Docks are a short distance away, as is Barking Intermodal Terminal which links to the country’s national rail network and HS1 to Europe. The site also offers fast access to London City Airport and Central London via rail from Rainham and the proposed new Beam Park Station will be in proximity to the site.
North West Leicestershire District Council Leaders visit to see employment and skills initiatives in action Following the launch of the on-site ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre at Mercia Park, Winvic Construction Ltd – a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects – and its client, IM Properties (IMP), has unveiled a Sustainability and Innovation Hub (SIH) at the same Leicestershire site. The Leader of North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC), Richard Blunt, Deputy Leader, Richard Ashman, and Chief Executive, Bev Smith, visited the site to see first-hand the progress of the 238-acre employment park, and experience some of the training taking place as part of the scheme’s employment and skills commitments. The visit included the impressive civils and infrastructure works that Winvic has delivered, the recently handed-over 550,000 sq ft facility for DSV and the progress of Jaguar Land Rover’s 2.94 million sq ft global parts logistics centre, as well as Winvic and IM Properties’ commitment to sustainability and innovation that has culminated in the opening of the first satellite Sustainability and Innovation Hub. The Hub comprises three zones – Sustainability, Innovation and Learning – which provide areas to showcase Mercia Park’s sustainability credentials, demonstrate Winvic’s digital advancements, train Winvic’s staff and supply chain more creatively than ever and inspire young people through educational visits. Its proximity to the ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre also means both facilities can be used for linked training activities. One key feature of the SIH is a 360-degree BIM CAVE area, which will aid the BIM design process in a real-time scenario by facilitating design team meetings and workshops and help develop VR imagery for health and safety training. Unlike the BIM CAVE located at Winvic’s Centre for Innovative Construction, it is a 360-degree resource where Virtual Reality (VR) 3D design models can be viewed as an immersive room experience, without a headset. Members of Winvic’s supply chain have partnered with the main contractor to bring the SIH to life, while IMP has provided the land. Carter Accommodation has supplied the cabins, Bespoke Construction the internal partitions and glazing; the PV and battery storage has been provided by Ivegate and the interactive screens by Walter Miles Electrical, while A & L Block Paving has undertaken all works to the external areas. Winvic has also sourced all the internal and external wall graphics and signage for the Hub through local social enterprise Nuneaton Signs. Also found within the SIH, there is an interactive meeting room, training and learning space and an area with a 3D printer. Visitors, such as school, college and university students, can also get hands on with Winvic’s digital Operation and Maintenance Manuals, whereby they can access sections of a design manual, maintenance guidance or 360-degree photos by using QR codes, in the same way end-users can within their finished building. Not only did the visiting party from NWLDC get hands-on, enjoy a demonstration of the BIM CAVE and see the facilities, but they also witnessed PGL Midlands delivering Face-fit training for Bespoke Construction, onsite and classroom IPAF Training being delivered onsite by Nationwide. Activities also included an interactive demonstration at the Sika Concrete Mobile Training Laboratory and a tour of the on-site concrete batching plant as part of Hanson’s concrete sustainability CPD training. To end the visit, Winvic and IMP took the NWLDC Leader, Deputy Leader and Chief Executive on a Mercia Park site tour where they saw the progress of the Jaguar Land Rover project. Winvic’s Technical Director, Tim Reeve, who sits on the company’s Sustainability Leadership Team, commented: “The Sustainability and Innovation Hub – the second facility we have launched with IM Properties at Mercia Park in a matter of weeks – is testament to both company’s commitment to the future of construction, which has sustainability and innovation at its very heart. We can’t thank IM Properties – and our suppliers – enough for their willingness to drive this initiative in partnership with us. “Mercia Park’s green and state-of-the-art digital credentials make it the ideal location for the facility. It’s not only an operational digital design centre for Winvic, IM Properties, consultants and suppliers to utilise, but it also showcases the scheme and our team’s innovative initiatives and acts as an education and training centre for young people in the community. The value of such a facility and the broader was clearly seen by the visitors from North West Leicestershire District Council who were enthused all day, and we’re now looking forward to welcoming schools, college and universities, as well as more companies in our supply chain, to the Hub.” David Smith, planning director for IM Properties added: “It is great to see the commitments we made at the planning stage of the project, being turned into reality. It has been an incredibly difficult period in which to mobilise these activities, however our creative thinking, partnership approach, persistence and passion to maximise the employment and skills outcomes associated with the project, is beginning to yield some very positive outcomes. “Winvic is particularly proactive and we are delighted to be able to host their first Sustainability and Innovation Hub to showcase our joint ambitions to deliver net zero in construction on site as part of our overall commitments as a business to achieve new targets for improving our carbon footprint over the next decade.” Councillor Richard Blunt, Leader of North West Leicestershire District Council said it was great to see first-hand the approach to zero carbon and sustainable development Mercia Park was championing. “Mercia Park is an example of how a development can make a range of significant contributions to an area, both in terms of employment and community infrastructure. The green credentials of the development are very positive. As a council we are committed to being Zero Carbon by 2030 and we want others to follow our lead. To see the sustainability at Mercia Park is very inspiring.” For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news
Rosendin, the nation’s largest employee-owned electrical contracting company with a regional office in Tempe, has been selected as the electrical contractor for Facebook’s Mesa Data Center project. Rosendin will work with general contractor DPR Construction to build the data center building and site infrastructure located 20 miles east of Phoenix. “As one of the country’s biggest electrical construction companies building complex data centers, Rosendin is proud to bring our expertise to build a secure, energy-efficient data center with reliable electrical power and communications systems,” said Rosendin CEO Mike Greenawalt. “Facebook’s Mesa Data Center is a true investment to the City of Mesa and the entire Phoenix Metro area because it shows the community’s investment in building our digital infrastructure, creating high-paying jobs, and using clean energy solutions.” Starting immediately, Rosendin will hire 500 people including skilled electrical workers, prefabrication warehouse staff, BIM (computer modelers), estimators, project managers, and office staff. Career opportunities are available for experienced craft workers, as well as apprentices and those interested in exploring jobs in the construction industry. “Skilled craft workers understand the value of building innovative data center projects which utilize the newest technologies, but we also want to show men and women outside the industry that there are also great paying positions with career advancements in our office,” said Ben Mlinar, Rosendin Division Manager. “Rosendin aims to be a good partner to DPR Construction and all the stakeholders on this project by providing a stable, robust workforce. We thank the IBEW Local 640 (Int’l Brotherhood of Electrical Workers), for supporting our needs.” Construction on Facebook’s Mesa Data Center has begun in Mesa’s Elliot Road Tech Corridor. The project aims to serve as a model of energy efficiency and will be supported by 100% renewable energy from new solar energy plants, apply for LEED Gold certification, and receive credits for water restoration efforts. To date, Rosendin has $4B portfolio of work that includes complex mission critical data center facilities for some of the largest high-tech, social media and co-location corporation in the country. Since opening a regional office in Arizona, Rosendin has built a local data center, semiconductor manufacturing facility, hotels, schools, government buildings, transportation lines, and an entertainment facility. Rosendin supports the local community and its nonprofits, including Arizona Foundation for Women, UMom New Day Centers, RISE, The Salvation Army, Junior Achievement, and St. Mary’s Food Bank.
SEGRO V-Park Grand Union will deliver 134,500 sq ft of light industrial space over six storeys The development forms part of Grand Union, a vibrant new canalside neighbourhood of over 3,000 homes being delivered by St George located in Alperton, close to Park Royal St George, a leading mixed use developer in London and member of the Berkeley Group, and SEGRO, the leading owner and developer of warehouse space, have formed a 50:50 joint venture to bring forward their first urban multi-storey industrial development in the UK as part of a major mixed use neighbourhood at Grand Union being delivered by St George in Brent, North West London. The pioneering development will provide 134,500 sq ft of flexible light industrial space over six storeys and support up to 500 jobs and apprenticeships. The industrial development, to be called SEGRO V-Park Grand Union, is an innovative new concept for delivering multi-storey light industrial property and is designed to maximise employment space and accessibility on the 1.7-acre plot. The concept fully supports the aspirations in the GLA’s new London Plan to intensify industrial land, delivering jobs and homes as part of the regeneration of a wider brownfield site. It forms part of Grand Union, a new canal-side destination which is being delivered by St George. The 22-acre former derelict Northfields Industrial Estate is being transformed into a vibrant new mixed-use neighbourhood in Alperton compromising 3,350 homes, 35% of which will be affordable with first residents being welcomed later this year, delivering much needed homes and jobs to the London Borough of Brent. Grand Union will provide 10.2 acres of publicly accessible landscaped gardens, a net biodiversity gain of 240%, community centre, health centre, local supermarket and a range of onsite amenities. The new neighbourhood will also open up previously inaccessible parts of the Grand Union Canal and River Brent to the local community, creating improved routes around Grand Union and to nearby Stonebridge Park Station. Within SEGRO V-Park Grand Union, the ground and first floors will be utilised to provide over 100 parking spaces, with electric vehicle charging points also being incorporated. The flexible industrial space is arranged over four upper levels which can be configured as up to 20 individual units offering a range of sizes, supported by shared meeting rooms, breakout areas and wellness spaces, including a green roof terrace. The development will incorporate sustainability features such as photovoltaic cells and an internal green wall. Construction is expected to begin in Summer 2022. SEGRO V-Park Grand Union expands SEGRO’s footprint in North West London. It is located close to Tudor Estate and Premier Park at Park Royal and will front onto the North Circular (A406), providing excellent connectivity to the M1 and M25. Piers Clanford, Managing Director, St George Plc, said: “Grand Union has been carefully designed with the local community to create an exciting new canalside neighbourhood, delivering high quality homes and vital jobs offering a wealth of amenities and uses within beautiful public spaces. SEGRO V-Park Grand Union is a key part of the redevelopment of this complex brownfield regeneration site in bringing even further opportunity for job creation, aligning with the Borough of Brent and the GLA’s ambitions. We look forward to working with SEGRO on this exciting project.” Alan Holland, Managing Director, Greater London at SEGRO, said: “SEGRO V-Park Grand Union is a new model for delivering much-needed light industrial space as part of mixed-use communities. “We are strong advocates for multi-storey warehousing in some urban settings given the pressure on land supply and the need to create space that supports different types of employment. We have successfully delivered multi-storey logistics at scale in Paris and now have the opportunity at Grand Union to adapt this format for a smaller urban site. “This regeneration project is a template for how to revitalise under-utilised industrial land to deliver much needed housing and jobs and we look forward to working with the GLA, London Borough of Brent and St George to bring forward these exciting plans.” Councillor Shama Tatler, Lead Member for Regeneration, Property and Planning at London Borough of Brent, said: “SEGRO V-Park Grand Union is a welcome addition to the borough. Not only will it support hundreds of new jobs during its creation, but it will also provide high quality industrial floorspace suitable for operating in the light industrial industry. V-Park will attract a range of occupiers – from start-up to more established businesses. “Later this year we will be welcoming our first residents to Grand Union as part of our partnership with St George and we look forward to seeing them settle into their new homes as the development transforms into a thriving place to live, work and connect.” Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills at the Greater London Authority, said: “SEGRO V-Park Grand Union is a very welcome, innovative approach to industrial intensification that will form part of an exciting new mixed-use development in London. The development will provide high quality homes, whilst creating much needed industrial workspace for a rich variety of small businesses that will create hundreds of jobs in the community. We are looking forward to SEGRO and St George delivering a new, vibrant, mixed-use scheme that will bring affordable homes and jobs to Brent”.
Waterloo have strengthened their product offering by replacing their displacement range with the full portfolio of Swegon displacement products. By integrating a range of airborne products from the Swegon group, the supplier of air terminal devices can deliver the widest range of room unit products in the UK market. The new range of displacement terminals are made to effectively discharge air at low velocity to ensure good comfort in rooms. In large spaces such as airports, theatres, factory floors, open offices, and supermarkets where a traditional mixed system can fall short; using a displacement system can have significant advantages on indoor air quality and efficiency. Rooms with high ceilings can benefit from substantial energy savings by installing the displacement terminals with Varizon®, as only the occupied zone needs to be cooled from the low level of displacement installation. Added to the lower pressure drop associated with displacement ventilation terminals, selection of smaller and slower fans is possible for a reduction in fan energy. The supply air temperature is higher for displacement systems (circa 18°C) than for an overhead mixing system (circa 14°C), meaning there is greater access to free cooling throughout the year, thus improving chiller efficiency. In general, the higher the space, the greater the payback, as consideration for cooling the whole space is not required. Another benefit of displacement is the increased hygiene factor. New air is directed straight into the occupied zone, and old air rises to be extracted through the ceiling, meaning increased ventilation effectiveness. Working on the principles of buoyancy and stratification, air is effectively supplied at low velocity to involve minimal mixing. By so doing, airborne pollutants lighter than air rise above the breathing zone, meaning the air quality in the occupied zone is superior to that achieved with mixing ventilation. Waterloo have introduced 11 models, the majority of which are complete with Swegon’s Varizon® system: offering one of the best levels of user comfort at close range on the market. The terminal can be set to move the near zone away from critical areas reducing the risk of draughts. This can be particularly effective in conference rooms with high occupancy & minimal space. The nozzles can also be readjusted after commissioning in instances of office restructure & occupant relocation. By integrating selected airborne products from the Swegon group, Waterloo is now in the position to offer the widest range of room unit products on the UK market. www.waterloo.co.uk rachel.roots@waterloo.co.uk
Significant new project will see development of two new speculative logistics/warehouse units of 149,000 and 41,000 sq ft… GMI Construction has announced that it has been instructed by leading logistics development company Tritax Symmetry to develop a huge new speculative logistics/warehouse scheme at a site in Middlewich known as MA6NITUDE. Infrastructure works are well underway on the Cheshire East development site which will see the construction of two units of 149,000 and 41,000 sq ft respectively. Both units will be net zero carbon in their construction and when complete, 15% of the roofs will be fitted with solar panels with the ability for the roofs to be fully covered in photovoltaic panels at a future date. Speaking about the instruction, Marc Banks, Divisional Managing Director at GMI Construction, said: “We are delighted to be working with Tritax Symmetry to deliver these important new facilities in Middlewich. Our team has made an excellent start and the site is already taking shape to what will eventually be a first-class sustainable building that will be a huge business asset to the area.” Also commenting David Nuttall, Development Director at Tritax Symmetry, said: “We are excited to see spades go in the ground here at MA6NITUDE and bring forward high quality facilities at a time when demand for space is at record levels. “There is a huge amount of activity happening across the site, with Swizzels’ facility also due to complete next year and detailed planning submitted for 238,000 sq ft of space at unit 41 which could also be delivered before the end of 2022.” Jonathan Atherton, Director at Savills, joint letting agents for the scheme with B8RE and Legat Owen, added: “The development at MA6NITUDE will provide much needed floor space to a market when supply is falling at its fastest ever rate. The location and quality of the units are expected to attract strong occupier interest.” This scheme is being delivered by GMI’s expert operations team including Project Manager, Dan Meadowcroft, Site Manager, Rebecca Shiels, Site Engineer, James Rushton, and supported by Construction Director, Anthony Judge. For further information about the development visit: https://ma6nitude.com/
MCM Group is delighted to announce that Unit 12, a 38,000 sq ft warehouse at Felnex Road off Pontefract Lane, Leeds, is to be redeveloped creating a new high specification, industrial property suitable for use as a storage and distribution facility or trade counter. Planning permission has just been granted for the building to be completely stripped back to its frame and reformatted. In order to maximise the 1.68-acre site, the footprint of the original property will be reduced to 28,537 sq. ft which in turn will provide additional yard space and parking areas. North East-based property investment company MCM Group, which acquired the site earlier this year, has been working with Carter Towler’s Industrial Agency team and S&SA Architects designing a redevelopment scheme that would maximise the potential of the existing building and land. Commenting on the scheme, MCM Group’s Investment Director Douglas Cranston said: “We are really excited to see this project get underway and complete an extensive refurbishment that will future proof such a well-located asset. The initial demolition work has now started on site and Walter Thompson Contractors will commence the rebuild. We are aiming for the new property to be ready for occupation early in the New Year. “We are keen to expand our property portfolio and were particularly interested in investing in Cross Green. This area just to the east of Leeds city centre is flourishing with leading businesses including Amazon, DHL, CEF, Euro Car Parts, Premier Farnell, Fedex, John Lewis, Symingtons and BCA but there is a marked shortage of medium-sized industrial properties which we hope to help address.” Carter Towler’s Industrial Agency Director Josh Holmes added: “While we have been advising MCM Group on the reformatting and marketing of the site we have received a number of very promising enquiries from potential occupants. We are confident given the high-quality refurbishment being undertaken and roadside prominence of the site that we will secure an occupier before it’s completed in January.” Tom Goode, Associate with the industrial property team of Knight Frank in Leeds, concluded: “Felnex Road will provide some much needed high quality stock to address the current supply and demand imbalance in West Yorkshire. Located between J45 of the M1 and Leeds city centre, the building occupies a prime and prominent position fronting Pontefract Lane and will appeal to both trade counter and logistics occupiers alike”. Felnex Road is located directly off the A63 close to junction 45 of the M1 and just 1 mile east of Leeds city centre. Tom Goode and Iain McPhail at Knight Frank in Leeds have been appointed as joint marketing agents.