Caddick Construction has been appointed to deliver a 14,500 sq m factory extension for FTSE 100 packaging company Smurfit Kappa, making it the largest integrated corrugated plant in the UK. The manufacturing facility at Mold Business Park in Flintshire is used to create shelf ready packaging for the retail sector,
Railpen and Wrenbridge have signed a major new occupier, Leathams Ltd, a food supplier and distributor, at Dartford X. Leathams Ltd have taken a pre-let of 30,000 sq ft at the site. Dartford X covers nine-acres and was acquired by Railpen in December 2019. Railpen’s development partner Wrenbridge have delivered
Subsea consultancy doubles floorspace at the Innovation Centre Namaka Subsea has upsized operations at Aberdeen Energy & Innovation Parks in Bridge of Don, with the subsea consultancy company moving from Unit 16 to Units 6 and 7 at the Innovation Centre, having agreed a five-year lease with Moorfield Group, the
The project will see the demolition of the redundant Goliath unit together with enabling works to make way for the design and build of three new industrial/logistics units totalling 780,000 sq ft on a 43-acre site to be known as Coventry Logistics Park in Coventry. Glencar, an expanding construction company
Butor1.hu, one of the largest online furniture stores in Hungary, and Karzol-Trans logistic company are the latest tenants of HelloParks Maglód’s 46,000 sq m warehouse which is the first phase of the logistics megapark. Lithuanian-based Butor1 (Furniture1), which has shown significant growth in recent years, is establishing a distribution centre
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, has handed over a commemorative key to global transport and logistics company DSV, to celebrate the practical completion of a 522,000 sq ft industrial facility and offices. The scheme
Leading commercial property developer Stoford has submitted plans for a new warehouse in Middlewich, Cheshire, for salt manufacturer British Salt. Stoford has been appointed to build the 184,493 sq ft warehouse in Faulkner Drive, to support British Salt’s existing operations and its new, state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, which will be sited
As COP26 arrives in Scotland, Canmoor is delighted to announce that leading wind energy supply chain specialist, Renewable Parts has agreed terms for a five-fold expansion of operations at Westway Park in Renfrew. Renewable Parks has been based at Westway since 2015 and will move to Unit G1, which extends
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
Caddick Construction has been appointed to deliver a 14,500 sq m factory extension for FTSE 100 packaging company Smurfit Kappa, making it the largest integrated corrugated plant in the UK. The manufacturing facility at Mold Business Park in Flintshire is used to create shelf ready packaging for the retail sector, along with other streams of packaging for the food and beverage, e-commerce, industrial, health, beauty, and agricultural sectors. The building is set to complete in summer 2022 with new production capacity phased between then and early 2023. Ben Edwards, contracts manager at Caddick Construction, said: “The expansion will deliver the largest box factory in the company and the Caddick Construction team look forward to helping Smurfit Kappa achieve its growth and sustainability aims. “The project will create new local employment opportunities and deliver a high quality facility. As part of our commitment to generating local jobs, skills and training opportunities, we will use a local supply chain where possible, as well as implementing a number of social value initiatives during the coming year.” The expansion is a big part of the company’s €40 million investment to expand capacity at the Mold plant, and is designed to help Smurfit Kappa meet the growing demand for sustainable packaging. The state-of-the-art equipment being installed will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 15% per tonne. Smurfit Kappa UK and Ireland CEO, Eddie Fellows, said: “This investment in North Wales will increase our capability, flexibility and speed of response to deliver unrivalled innovative packaging solutions to customers across the UK and Ireland. We are determined to meet the future needs of our customers in a sustainable way. It is vital that our investment has benefits for the local community and the environment.” As part of the project, a three-acre nature trail is being delivered alongside a new diverted footpath and stream, which can be used by the on-site team, as well as the local community. Working in partnership with Park in the Past, a local heritage and conservation project, an additional 10,000 trees, shrubs and bushes will be planted. Soil that needs to be removed as part of the construction process will be used by the nearby heritage project for landscaping needs in and around the old quarry sites. Smurfit Kappa’s Mold plant employs 194 staff and has been in operation since 1994.
Railpen and Wrenbridge have signed a major new occupier, Leathams Ltd, a food supplier and distributor, at Dartford X. Leathams Ltd have taken a pre-let of 30,000 sq ft at the site. Dartford X covers nine-acres and was acquired by Railpen in December 2019. Railpen’s development partner Wrenbridge have delivered five new Grade A warehouse units ranging in size from 13,000 sq ft to 75,000 sq ft. The warehouses all have excellent sustainability credentials, with Dartford X achieving a BREEAM Excellent rating. All buildings are highly insulated, have PV panels on the roof, and contain water-saving features and energy-efficient lifts. There are also electric vehicle charging points across the site (20 per cent active and 80 per cent passive). Alastair Dawson, Senior Asset Manager at Railpen, says: “We are delighted Leathams have taken space at Dartford X. Leathams choosing Dartford X shows the park can accommodate major companies wanting to operate from high-specification buildings with excellent access to Central London and the M25 at an affordable price. The industrial and logistics sector form a key part of Railpen’s portfolio at a time when the sector is hugely important to the UK’s economic recovery.” Martin Sandler, Real Estate Director at Leathams, says: “Dartford X is a brilliant location for Leathams. Its proximity to major motorways and transport infrastructure giving us access to Folkstone/Felixstowe for our inbound goods as well as our outbound distribution to London and National, are a key part of its appeal. Dartford X’s green credentials, the ceiling heights, large yard and generous power supply are important too, particularly as we plan to install a new chilled box as part of our fit-out. The outlook over plentiful green spaces and lakes will also be great for our Colleagues from a wellbeing perspective. We look forward to occupying the space and a long-term relationship with Railpen.” Harry Gibson, Associate Director at Wrenbridge, says: “The transaction with Leathams Ltd highlights the demand for high specification accommodation in key locations such as Dartford. We have enjoyed working closely with Leathams, and we look forward to growing the relationship further throughout their fit-out and seeing how they utilise the building’s specification and sustainability measures.” Dartford X is owned and managed by Railpen, the investment manager for the GBP35 billion Railways Pension Schemes and developed in partnership with Wrenbridge. CBRE, Cushmans and Glenny represented Railpen.
Subsea consultancy doubles floorspace at the Innovation Centre Namaka Subsea has upsized operations at Aberdeen Energy & Innovation Parks in Bridge of Don, with the subsea consultancy company moving from Unit 16 to Units 6 and 7 at the Innovation Centre, having agreed a five-year lease with Moorfield Group, the Parks’ owner and landlord. Namaka Subsea, which provides a range of subsea consulting services, including diving and ROV auditing and assurance, to oil and gas operators, has been based at the Innovation Centre for the past three years. Namaka has recently been awarded a new contract with a leading global energy provider to supply dive system auditing, onshore support, technical advice and assurance services. This contract win has facilitated the expansion of the business over the past 18 months, with headcount increasing from six to eleven employees. Sandy Harper, CEO of Namaka Subsea said: “We are excited with the growth of our business, particularly during challenging economic times. We have been very satisfied with the space we’ve had at the Innovation Centre for the past three years and pleased that we have been able to continue our growth and development within this fantastic location.” Hugh Canham, Head of Asset Management at Moorfield Group added: “Our parks provide the perfect environment for businesses to develop and prosper. We are committed to supporting our existing occupiers and helping them realise their growth ambitions. It is particularly satisfying to see an existing occupier like Namaka Subsea continue to expand here and we wish them continued success.” Aberdeen Energy & Innovation Parks comprise 200,000 sq ft of multi-let office and industrial space for more than 80 companies and a workforce of nearly 2,000 employees in the Bridge of Don area of Aberdeen. The Innovation Centre offers occupiers a modern serviced office centre that provides a mix of two to ten person serviced office suites on highly flexible terms. The park offers ample car parking and electric charging points. It is conveniently located, approximately three miles north of Aberdeen city centre and close to the Aberdeen Western Periphery Route. Knight Frank and Ryden are joint agents for Aberdeen Energy & Innovation Parks, which is managed by Avison Young.
The project will see the demolition of the redundant Goliath unit together with enabling works to make way for the design and build of three new industrial/logistics units totalling 780,000 sq ft on a 43-acre site to be known as Coventry Logistics Park in Coventry. Glencar, an expanding construction company specialising in the industrial, logistics, distribution, manufacturing, life science and pharmaceutical sectors has today announced that it has been awarded a contract by specialist logistics commercial property developers Bericote Properties to construct 780,000 sq ft of speculative industrial space across three new units at a site in Coventry to be known as Coventry Logistics Park. Works commenced at the start of the month with demolition of the existing building together with enabling works. The project is expected to be complete by the summer of next year. It will feature three units of 484,000 sq ft, 251,000 sq ft and 47,000 sq ft, which have been designed by leading architects Corstorphine & Wright. All the units will be built to BREEAM Excellent rating with the two larger units totalling 15 metre eaves and the smaller unit 10 metres. Speaking about the project award Pete Goodman Glencar Managing Director Midlands and North said: “Coventry Logistics Park looks set to become one of the West Midlands newest and highest profile logistics/industrial developments and we are absolutely delighted to have been instructed by Bericote and their joint venture partner JP Morgan on the project. We are gearing up to get started shortly with the demolition and redevelopment of the former Toys R Us site that sits on the site currently to then follow with construction of this brand new three-unit mega scheme. Glencar has made its name in the construction of high-quality logistics/industrial units and we are looking forward to delivering another example of that for Bericote and JP Morgan across the full project team” Coventry Logistics Park is located close to Junction 2 of the M6 motorway offering excellent transport throughout the west midlands and beyond. For further information visit https://coventrylogisticspark.co.uk/
Butor1.hu, one of the largest online furniture stores in Hungary, and Karzol-Trans logistic company are the latest tenants of HelloParks Maglód’s 46,000 sq m warehouse which is the first phase of the logistics megapark. Lithuanian-based Butor1 (Furniture1), which has shown significant growth in recent years, is establishing a distribution centre supporting 8 countries from the 5,000 sq m warehouse space, while Karzol-Trans Kft. set the goal of centralizing its services and increasing their capacity by 50% on the 6,400 sq m lease. A new chapter begins for Furniture1, the Lithuanian based furniture retailer, and the 100% Hungarian-owned Karzol-Trans Kft., which deals with international transport and dynamically developing warehousing services, as they have decided to move to Maglód. The fastest-growing industrial area of the eastern agglomeration of Budapest is an ideal location for production companies and logistics service providers. The companies were able to move in to HelloParks Maglód’s first, 46,000 sq m asset that is soon to receive one of the highest BREEAM certification, just over six months after the construction works have started in the vicinity of the capital of Hungary, close to the M0 ring road, near the M4 and M5 highways, and Liszt Ferenc International Airport. Furniture1, one of Hungary’s largest online furniture stores started operating as a start-up in Lithuania in 2006, now the company is present in 10 countries. It has been operating in Hungary since 2015 as Butor1.hu. The new 5,000 sq m distribution centre in Maglód is one of the largest logistics investments of the company, where it establishes a facility supporting 8 countries. For the company, which mostly uses bulk and rack storage, HelloParks Maglód was a clear choice primarily due to its excellent location and unrivalled rental conditions. “Our company has reached an important milestone with the investment in Maglód. We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with such a flexible company, which offers excellent conditions and the best value for our money, such as HelloParks. It is also a great pleasure that environmental awareness and sustainable operation are just as paramount to HelloParks, as they are to us!” said Ferenc Balsai, Country Manager of Furnitue1.eu. The Hungarian-owned Karzol-Trans has been dealing with logistics and related services for more than 25 years, and currently has its own 5,000 sq m warehouse in neighbouring Ecser. With the new 6,400 sq m lease, the company will be able to centralize its fragmented service locations, and among other things, extending their warehouse management software to the operations of the new lease, will help them increase their current capacity by more than 50%. “HelloParks Maglód, which is located 5 minutes away from our site, was chosen due to the extraordinary features of the area, the proximity of the airport and the highway. This allows us to outsource the operation for our dedicated customers as close as possible, which is extremely important for a smooth business. Together with HelloParks, we have developed a shelving system in the new facility for more space saving storage of pallet goods, and we implemented new security and IT investments in line with our customers’ needs” said Zoltán Joós Jr. Managing Director of Karzol Logisztika Kft. “Hello Furniture1, Hello Karzol-Trans! It is a great pleasure for us that such well-known companies with international network have chosen HelloParks Maglód as their logistics centre. We hope that we can be partners in supporting their future growth, as nearly 200,000 sq m of warehouse space development is possible in our park. We hope that our park will serve as a real home for their activities and future plans. We would like to thank them for the trust they have placed in us with excellent service, expert attitude and flexible cooperation!” said Rudolf Nemes, Chief Executive Officer of HelloParks. One of Hungary’s leading developers, Futureal Group’s member HelloParks intends to build a total of 193,000 sq m of warehouse, light industrial and office space on the Maglód site. Several buildings will be developed in the park with different sizes – depending on the needs of tenants – between 26,000 and 90,000 sq m. The minimum leasable area in the first facility is 3,200 sq m. For smaller tenants, the second building can offer premises of 500, 1,000 or 2,000 sq m. Similar to HelloParks Fót and HelloParks Páty, the HelloParks Maglód facilities will also meet one of the highest BREEAM sustainability standards, due to smart solutions that ensure energy efficiency and environmentally friendly operation. Drone video of HelloParks Maglod site is available on the following link:
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, has handed over a commemorative key to global transport and logistics company DSV, to celebrate the practical completion of a 522,000 sq ft industrial facility and offices. The scheme – designed, constructed and partially fitted out by Winvic during the pandemic – is located at the 238-acre Mercia Park in North West Leicestershire. Delegates from DSV travelled from the company’s global headquarters in Denmark to see the fully realised facility, which comprises three buildings – totalling 522,000 sq ft – and contains 104 dock levellers: A 358,000 sq ft steel-framed warehouse containing three mezzanine floors and two single-storey hub offices totalling 4,360 sq ft A 112,000 sq ft cross-dock terminal that contains a 7,050 sq ft single-storey hub office A 35,660 sq ft three-storey office building The large stand-alone office building was designed and executed to meet DSV’s global standard and Winvic also fitted out the office spaces found within the warehouse buildings. Prominent design features to the main office include a glass lift, wood panelled walls in an oak finish and a feature staircase. The external works package included 381,700 sq ft yard space plus car parking for 406 vehicles, and the programme contained all drainage, retaining wall, and hard and soft landscaping works. The project’s progress has been streamed throughout construction and the full timelapse video can be viewed here. Winvic Construction Director, Rob Bull, said: “The DSV project bucks the industrial facility trend because it comprises separate buildings for the main warehouse, cross dock and offices, but there was no doubt that we could carefully sequence the construction and fit out works to build them all simultaneously and within ten months. Additionally, our team led by Project Manager David Gilbert knew that the aesthetics, material quality and execution had to meet DSV’s high global design standards and we’re as thrilled as DSV are about the exceptional finish achieved. Without such a talented team who works as one and always has an eye on the joint, end-goal we wouldn’t be able to deliver schemes of this nature so swiftly, expertly and in the challenges presented by the pandemic, so thank you to them.” Brian Winther Almind, Executive Vice President, Group Property at DSV, added: “It has been a pleasure to work in partnership with Winvic over the past year on Mercia Park and the team’s skill and knowledge has driven the project to a successful completion, on time and to budget. It is an important site to DSV – as it will now become home to all three of our business units, DSV Roads, DSV Solutions and DSV Air and Sea – so we’re delighted that the high-quality design, construction and finish not only meets our global standards but that Winvic has once again exceeded expectations and delivered a true flagship campus for our business.” Winvic started works for IM Properties (IMP) to undertake the civils and infrastructure works at Mercia Park in June 2020 and in March 2021, Winvic was appointed once again by the developer to construct the largest ever single occupier logistics park for tenant Jaguar Land Rover. Winvic will remain on site for another year and just last week announced – in partnership with IMP – the launch of the first ‘Future of Construction’ Training Centre, located on-site at Mercia Park. Furthermore, the DSV project was selected as the first of two schemes where the Computer-Vision-SMART technology will be developed. The AI enabled cameras that were placed around the site have now been moved to the IMP Jaguar Land Rover site and development of the machine learning software will continue for another 12 months. 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.
Leading commercial property developer Stoford has submitted plans for a new warehouse in Middlewich, Cheshire, for salt manufacturer British Salt. Stoford has been appointed to build the 184,493 sq ft warehouse in Faulkner Drive, to support British Salt’s existing operations and its new, state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, which will be sited on adjacent land. Stoford won the contract to build the supporting facility, which will comprise a warehouse with associated offices, to a haunch height of 12.5m. It will enable British Salt to store the products manufactured on site, streamlining its packaging and supply chain operations. “British Salt is a new client for Stoford and I’m pleased to have been appointed to deliver its new warehouse, which will support its continued growth. British Salt has been manufacturing from Middlewich for over 50 years and it is great to support its long-term aspirations and investment in the region. We’re looking forward to working with the company over the next few months,” said Edward Peel, Development Manager. Once the planning application has been considered by East Cheshire Borough Council, the developer hopes to start building work in Q2 next year, with a projected completion date of Q1 2023. The new manufacturing facility, which will be the first in the UK to produce pharmaceutical grade salt, has already been approved by planners and building work is due to start later this year. “The proposed new warehouse at our British Salt Middlewich site is a key strategic enabler in the delivery of our exciting growth plans for British Salt. The new warehouse is the latest major investment at Middlewich and follows on from a new gas fired boiler plant commissioned in 2020 and a new pharmaceutical grade salt manufacturing facility,” added Fraser Ramsay, Commercial and Business Development Manager for Estates for British Salt Ltd. British Salt was founded in Middlewich in 1969 and is a leading manufacturer of pure dried vacuum salt products. Now part of TATA Chemicals Europe, it provides more than 400,000 tonnes of salt every year, which is used in a range of sectors, including food production, chemical industries, water treatment, animal feeds, textiles and tanning, de-icing and for flavouring food. It is understood that their salt is used by every single person in the UK, every day.
As COP26 arrives in Scotland, Canmoor is delighted to announce that leading wind energy supply chain specialist, Renewable Parts has agreed terms for a five-fold expansion of operations at Westway Park in Renfrew. Renewable Parks has been based at Westway since 2015 and will move to Unit G1, which extends to 24,000 sq ft, an expansion of almost 20,000 sq ft from the 5,000 sq ft it currently occupies. The lease term is 15 years. The move is set to take place next year, with Renewable Parts undertaking sustainable fit out works prior to officially opening the new unit in the spring of 2022. Renewable Parts is the UK’s leading supplier of parts to the wind energy sector, supporting all the major turbine brands, including Vestas, Siemens-Gamesa, Senvion, Nordex, and GE. It supplies new and refurbished parts, consumables, and major components to utilities and a range of service providers, as well as offering bespoke supply chain management solutions. The company has undergone rapid expansion over the past 18 months, this move will allow further development of its offshore wind and supply chain service capabilities, alongside its new offering of major component storage and ancillary services. The new facility will also enable the company to continue growth in Europe and South America as well as enter into new markets including North America. It will also facilitate Renewable Parts’ recently opened Innovation Centre in mainstreaming its unique sustainable, refurbishment and remanufacture, supply chain across the UK, directly reducing carbon emissions from the Operations and Maintenance of renewable energy. Commenting on the Westway expansion, James Barry, Chief Executive of Renewable Parts said: “We are very excited about the continued expansion of our business, which has grown rapidly over the last few years. The move to our expanded Operations Centre at Westway will greatly enhance the capability we can provide our customers. Not only will it offer superior capacity, but crucially, 40t heavy lift capability to support main component storages services for UK based operators. This key development will help us meet the next stage of our journey to become the leading independent supplier of new and refurbished parts to the wind industry within Europe. “The growth of renewable energy over past ten years is a testament of the world’s commitment to reduce their carbon footprint and work to create a better world for future generations. Renewable Parts is proud to be part of this global movement to create a cleaner, greener, and fairer society. So far, we have worked with our customers to reduce carbon footprints by 170 tonnes and diverted over 100 tonnes of material away from scrap and landfill. “With COP26 currently being in Glasgow, we are optimistic about the future, with renewables and sustainability being even more firmly in focus, as we help customers achieve a greener, more sustainable future and move closer to achieving their net zero carbon footprint goals.” Toby Saul, Asset Manager of Canmoor added: “Renewable Parts has been a top Westway occupier for more than six years now and it is great to see this aspiring business continue to expand operations here. “It is a further boost for the park, following the completion of over 365,000 sq ft sq ft of lettings this year, with further deals anticipated before the end of the year. “We are committed to investing and improving the park and have recently completed the £3m refurbishment of Block D. Development work is also continuing on the brand new 120,400 sq ft Filshill Distribution Centre, which is scheduled to complete shortly.” Westway Park was acquired by Canmoor in 2018. It is a key strategic industrial and distribution location that offers excellent connectivity to the whole of Central Scotland, with Junction 27 of the M8 only three minutes drive away. It is located in the heart of the Glasgow Airport Investment area, which is one of the key City Deal projects that will benefit from £39.1m of inward investment over the next ten years. This will deliver significant infrastructure investment to the area including a new two-lane bridge over the White Cart, directly linking Westway with the investment area and airport. Westway also benefits from refurbished modern open place office suites ranging in size from 100 – 4,000 sq ft. Renewable Parts was advised by PJ Leggate, Canmoor’s joint agents at Westway Park are JLL and Colliers and the park is managed by Knight Frank. For more information on Renewable Parks’ Road to COP26, please visit: COP26 – The Road to Net Zero (renewable-parts.com)
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.