DIRFT III Features Specialist Rail Traverser Mechan is supplying a multidisciplinary main contractor, Winvic Construction, with a bespoke rail traverser for a new £29 million Intermodal Rail Freight Terminal that is being constructed for Prologis at its DIRFT intermodal logistics park in Northamptonshire. The rail depot equipment specialist is one
Maynards Europe will oversee the initial stages in one of the most important regeneration projects in the UK from 2021 onwards. Work is set to begin in January following the acquisition of the 100-acre Avlon Works pharmaceutical processing site in the heart of Avonmouth Severnside by the Vancouver-based Epta Development
Lismore Real Estate Advisors (Lismore) advised a UK fund client on the £10.5m sale of the multi-let Belleknowes Industrial Estate in Inverkeithing to PATRIZIA and Caisson. The sale price reflected a net initial yield of 5.95%. Belleknowes Industrial Estate is Fife’s premier industrial estate and is located only 15 minutes
Panattoni, the largest speculative developer of logistics property in the UK, has sold Basildon 117 in a multi-million-pound deal to asset management giant Aberdeen Standard Investments. The speculative development, which was completed in Q4 2019, was the largest to be built within Basildon in over a decade. Last year saw
Construction companies can now benefit from a ‘UK first’ innovation which allows three-metre aluminium flagpoles to be installed onto standard shipping containers used as site offices and stores. The new container flagpoles system enables contractors to make building sites highly visible to visitors and passers-by as soon as work starts
New safety and impact protection equipment from specialist Brandsafe has been specified for a major new warehouse and distribution centre in London. The move sees the UK based company supplying a range of its high-quality safety and protection equipment to online retailer Amazon’s 180,720 sq. ft. multi-storey site in Neasden. This includes
Caddick Construction has been appointed by Network Space Developments to deliver the recently approved 138,000 sq. ft Spitfire Court industrial scheme, part of the Triumph Business Park in Speke. Work is now started on site. Network Space Developments is bringing forward the £15m speculative scheme on behalf of Infrared Capital
GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, announced today that it is starting construction on 1 million SQ FT of warehouse space across seven units and four sites in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes, following the grant of planning permission. It is the largest programme
HBD Barnfield has marked two major milestones for Beacon 62, an 11.5-acre strategic gateway development in Huyton, Merseyside, with the completion of an 18,000 sq ft Aldi supermarket and detailed planning consent secured for a Euro Garages service station. HBD Barnfield is a joint venture partnership between property developer HBD
Stainforth Construction Ltd have been appointed by Barmston Developments a subsidiary of Leeds based Wilton Developments to deliver the final plot on the successful Enterprise 36 industrial park in Tankersley, South Yorkshire. The contractor will start on-site later this month to deliver an 80,500 sq ft HQ building for an
DIRFT III Features Specialist Rail Traverser Mechan is supplying a multidisciplinary main contractor, Winvic Construction, with a bespoke rail traverser for a new £29 million Intermodal Rail Freight Terminal that is being constructed for Prologis at its DIRFT intermodal logistics park in Northamptonshire. The rail depot equipment specialist is one of few UK firms with the ability to design and build traversers, holding the record for the largest installation in the country at the Port of Felixstowe. Known as DIRFT III, the project comprises a 344-hectare logistics site, which will include a state-of-the-art rail freight terminal. Mechan’s traverser will be situated outside the terminal building, at the end of 9km of new lines, being constructed by Winvic, who is also responsible for installing three new bridges and a 79,000m² terminal slab. The traverser will be used to move Class 66 locomotives in a perpendicular direction to the tracks, so they can return to service after loading/unloading. This has allowed the terminal length to be shorter, as a head shunt isn’t required. Working closely with the Winvic team, Mechan has designed the multi-rail traverser to suit the specific conditions at DIRFT III. It spans 28 metres, has a capacity of 140 tonnes and comprises an access platform, plus loco buffer to prevent trains overrunning. Lindsey Mills, Mechan’s sales manager, said: “We are really pleased to secure a contract for the DIRFT III traverser, after successfully completing a competitive tendering process and we look forward to working with Winvic on this key project. Although the sheer size of a traverser makes each installation a challenge, they are actually a great space saving device, allowing trains to be transferred between tracks easily and efficiently.” Once the design process is complete, Mechan will begin construction of the traverser at its headquarters. It will be dismantled for delivery to site and is due to be installed and commissioned in April 2021, before training is provided to end user, Prologis. Winvic’s Rob Cook, Civils and Infrastructure Director, added: “As rail traversers aren’t that common in the UK, this is a particularly exciting element of an already significant and complex scheme. Mechan’s reputation is second to none and our design teams have been working very well together to get to the stage where the firm is almost ready to begin the manufacturing process. Installation is planned for the end of April and we are looking forward to seeing this specialist piece of equipment – that is central to the compact nature of the terminal’s design – being installed on site.” Winvic commenced construction of DIRFT III in June this year and it is expected to be completed next summer. The intermodal rail terminal will enable 24, 775-metre trains to carry freight in and out of the logistics park, while the concrete yard will provide space for the storage of approximately 460 containers. Each Mechan traverser is built to order and incorporates the latest technology, ensuring it is adaptable enough to handle future trains that are expected to be longer than they are today. For more information, telephone (0114) 257 0563, visit www.mechan.co.uk or follow the firm on Twitter, @mechanuk. 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.
Maynards Europe will oversee the initial stages in one of the most important regeneration projects in the UK from 2021 onwards. Work is set to begin in January following the acquisition of the 100-acre Avlon Works pharmaceutical processing site in the heart of Avonmouth Severnside by the Vancouver-based Epta Development Corporation (EDC) in December. Maynards, a global leader in industrial auctions and liquidations, is to manage the asset recovery and demolition of the former pharmaceutical plant. The project is so vast that the asset list runs to 144 pages and Maynards expects to put together a sales catalogue of more than 5,000 lots, to include “everything above ground”. Once the site has been cleared, EDC propose creating a modern, master-planned warehousing and logistics park comprising c.1,850,000 square, a project that is set to be a major contributor to economic development, job creation and regeneration for the region centred on South Gloucestershire. The Avlon Works were operational for 50 years from 1969 to 2019. In 2016 AstraZeneca sold the site to Avara Pharmaceutical in the hope of securing the operation’s future, but Avara fell into administration and the entire site was put up for sale. “With the complete contents of the 100-acre facility for sale, Maynards is offering a unique opportunity to purchase complete pharmaceutical production lines or individual assets,” says UK Managing Director Daniel Gray. “The spares inventory alone is valued at more than £2.5 million, but add to that site support equipment, site infrastructure, offices, labs, warehouse equipment, workshops, data centres, building structures and much more, and it is easy to see just how substantial and significant this offer is.” All the equipment has been professionally cleaned and purged, and Avara staff have been retained to assist in answering technical questions, providing data and assisting with sales and equipment removal from site. Full data sheets of the complete inventory are available to interested parties. Among the equipment and facilities to be disposed of are: five Large-Scale cGMP API Plants, with 6-10m3 reactors, pressure filter, conical and centrifuge drying two Large-Scale Milling Facilities with Hosakawa mills cGMP Kilo Scale facility with 20-100L reactors four quality, two environmental, six chemistry and one analytical laboratories IMS Solvent Recovery Unit (Koch Modular Process) a biological wastewater treatment facility a combined heat and power plant extensive warehousing including cold storage offices, workshops, site services, facilities and internal transport throughout “The Avonmouth site has long been a major national distribution hub for its products, and so is perfectly situated for effective asset disposal, with additional nearby port connections,” said Mr Gray. Maynards Europe is part of the Maynards group of companies, a global enterprise launched in 1902 which pioneered the Industrial and Retail auction industry from the early 1950s. A formidable track record in asset disposal includes numerous blue-chip partnerships in the automotive, pharmaceutical, energy supply and other industries that have enabled the repurposing of highly specialised machinery and equipment. One of the company’s main focuses has been the pharmaceutical industry. Most recently that has included the dispersal of the complete contents of Recipharm’s Ashton-under-Lyne pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. As with that project, Maynards Europe will work with logistics partners offering turnkey solutions to relocate and recommission equipment from the Avlon Works site globally.
Lismore Real Estate Advisors (Lismore) advised a UK fund client on the £10.5m sale of the multi-let Belleknowes Industrial Estate in Inverkeithing to PATRIZIA and Caisson. The sale price reflected a net initial yield of 5.95%. Belleknowes Industrial Estate is Fife’s premier industrial estate and is located only 15 minutes from Edinburgh airport. Extending to 140,000 sq.ft, it comprises 22 units of varying sizes and provides trade, warehousing and light industrial accommodation. It has a strong occupier base including Network Rail, Kwik-Fit, Speedy Hire, Plumbstore and Bella & Duke. Commenting on the sale, Chris Macfarlane, director of Lismore said: “The sale price and competitive bidding from both UK and overseas investors on this asset highlights the continuing demand for multi-let industrial opportunities across Scotland.” Lismore Real Estate Advisors and Shepherd & Wedderburn represented the vendor, whilst PATRIZIA and Caisson was advised by Galbraith and Morton Fraser.
Panattoni, the largest speculative developer of logistics property in the UK, has sold Basildon 117 in a multi-million-pound deal to asset management giant Aberdeen Standard Investments. The speculative development, which was completed in Q4 2019, was the largest to be built within Basildon in over a decade. Last year saw Swan Housing, one of the UK’s leading modular home builders secure a 15-year lease on the property. They will be making the unit its new headquarters in addition to its existing, adjacent factory, also owned by Aberdeen Standard Investments. “We are delighted to have concluded the sale of this asset to Aberdeen Standard. We were thrilled when Swan Homes decided to lease this development on a long-term basis to support the growth of their business. Aberdeen Standard’s purchase marks the end of our business plan on this project. We remain highly acquisitive for more development opportunities in the south east,” said James Watson, Development Director for Panattoni. The sale of the 117,000 sq ft unit by the developer, which completed in January 2021, was sold to Aberdeen Standard Investments in a £23.3 million deal to the investment firm, reflecting a net initial yield of 4.3%. “We are pleased to have completed the acquisition of Basildon 117 from Panattoni on behalf of South Yorkshire Pension Authority. The industrial unit increases SYPA investment in Basildon where Swan Commercial Services are already an existing tenant. We remain committed to increasing exposure into the industrial sector,” added James McLean, Fund Manager of Aberdeen Standard. JLL advised Panattoni and Burbage Realty acted for Aberdeen Standard Investments.
Construction companies can now benefit from a ‘UK first’ innovation which allows three-metre aluminium flagpoles to be installed onto standard shipping containers used as site offices and stores. The new container flagpoles system enables contractors to make building sites highly visible to visitors and passers-by as soon as work starts and before main site branding is installed. The innovation has been launched by Harrison Flagpoles, which is the UK’s only independent manufacturer of glassfibre, aluminium and stainless-steel flagpoles. Featuring a proprietary ‘twist and lock’ mechanism, the company believes it is the first manufacturer in the UK to design, build and launch a shipping container flagpole system. National housebuilder Redrow was the first company to benefit from the innovation and is initially using the container flagpoles for both branding and wayfinding at a number of sites in England’s southern and eastern regions. Harrison Flagpoles sales and marketing director, Anthony Leonard, commented: “Our container flagpole system enables construction companies to become highly visible as soon as work starts on site. As far as we are aware, we have achieved a UK first by being the only company in the country to design, build and launch this type of flagpole innovation. “Once a site is up and running, our container flagpoles can also be used as wayfinders to various locations on site such as first aid stations or security. We are able to provide clients with an integrated service from supply to installation and service, whilst also providing custom designed, branded and manufactured flags for the containers.” According to the company, the aluminium container flagpoles are easily installed and a one metre swivel arm top with a white mushroom finial means flags remain seen even if there is no wind. Founded in 1987, Harrison Flagpoles operates nationally and internationally from its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. The company serves the construction, housebuilder, automotive, retail, hospitality, leisure and public sectors. For more information visit www.flagpoles.co.uk
New safety and impact protection equipment from specialist Brandsafe has been specified for a major new warehouse and distribution centre in London. The move sees the UK based company supplying a range of its high-quality safety and protection equipment to online retailer Amazon’s 180,720 sq. ft. multi-storey site in Neasden. This includes products designed to facilitate pedestrian and parking safety while improving vehicle traffic routing and calming for the site. The work also involves Brandsafe, which is working on the product specification side with project architects SMR Architects, providing consultancy and project design, together with a comprehensive package of aftersales service support. The Neasden site is part of on-going plans by Amazon to upgrade its international distribution infrastructure to improve its operations and boost deliveries to millions of customers. Several sites across the UK and Europe are either under new construction or being upgraded to provide state-of-the-art centres to meet the current and future operational requirements. Hundreds of items of impact protection products, including Armco safety barriers featuring integrated safety ends, corners and post caps together with pedestrian safety handrails, column protectors, bollards, speed bumps and flexible traffic delineators, are among a package of equipment being installed onsite by Brandsafe’s service team. Security caging, fencing, gate posts and panels have also been supplied. The equipment is manufactured at the company’s Milton Keynes site and sees close cooperation between product supplier and contractor teams as part of an extensive scope of work to provide added safety planning services and expertise. The project is the latest success for Brandsafe, which has produced a strong business performance in the last three years on the back of significant contract wins and a focus on new product development and introductions. Paul Roehricht, UK strategic account manager, said this is another success and boost for Brandsafe, reflecting its growing reputation as one of the UK’s leading suppliers of warehouse and distribution safety and impact protection products and integrated systems. He said: “This project shows how we continue to meet the requirements of our global customers, adding value in the process through bespoke planning and consultancy services. It also vindicates our continued investment in building our capability and expertise to be able to deliver time critical, complex and high-profile contracts.”
Caddick Construction has been appointed by Network Space Developments to deliver the recently approved 138,000 sq. ft Spitfire Court industrial scheme, part of the Triumph Business Park in Speke. Work is now started on site. Network Space Developments is bringing forward the £15m speculative scheme on behalf of Infrared Capital Partners Ltd. The development plot is currently vacant land to the south-west corner of the Park and the scheme will bring 12 Grade A industrial units to market, taking the total Park footprint to almost 1million sq. ft. The proposed units range in size from 3,000 sq. ft up to 34,000 sq. ft. Six larger warehouse units include ancillary first floor offices, designated parking spaces, generous service yards and loading door access. One sub-divided terraced unit houses a further six smaller business units. Spitfire Court will meet BREEAM Very Good standards and will be zero carbon ready, allowing for easy adoption of future renewable energy technologies. The wider Triumph Business Park site is a major storage, distribution and commercial hub, with 24-hour access, security lodge and entrance barrier. It’s strategically located less than one mile from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, with Liverpool South Parkway transport interchange 1 mile to the north for destinations across Merseyside with links to Birmingham and London Euston. Network Space Development Director, Joe Burnett added: “We are continuing to see good demand for this type of scheme at the moment and we are delighted to appoint Caddick and hit the ground running with a view to getting Spitfire Court ready for occupation by the end of 2021. I am confident that this project will have a hugely positive impact, not only for the continued regeneration success story of the former Triumph factory site, but also for the wider borough.” Caddick Construction Managing Director Ian Threadgold said: “We are delighted to be working with Network Space Developments once again and helping to bring this site back to full use. Despite slowdown concerns nationally, we are seeing a surge in industrial builds across the North West and the Liverpool City Region which can take advantage of the strong transport links and infrastructure, strengthened by a skilled regional workforce.” Triumph Business Park was originally acquired by InfraRed in 2019, for £30m from an undisclosed vendor. Architects for the scheme are AEW Architects. CBRE and B8 are appointed as agents with NSM providing asset management services across the Park.
GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, announced today that it is starting construction on 1 million SQ FT of warehouse space across seven units and four sites in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes, following the grant of planning permission. It is the largest programme of speculative logistics real estate development currently underway in the UK. The development programme has been launched to satisfy the significant demand in an increasingly supply-constrained logistics real estate market in the UK. It follows GLP’s completion of 1.25 million SQ FT of speculative development at Magna Park South, Lutterworth in December 2020. Demand for larger warehouses has significantly expanded in recent years, particularly among e-commerce occupiers in need of more storage space. According to Savills, online sales in December 2020 were 51% higher year-on-year, with this growth trajectory expected to continue. As a result, warehouse take-up was 50.1 million SQ FT in 2020 – by far the strongest year on record. As part of the programme, GLP is developing the following units: Three distribution units of 126,000 SQ FT, 161,000 SQ FT and 249,000 SQ FT at G-Park Bedford Wixams A 133,000 SQ FT unit at G-Park Northampton, within the Moulton Park Estate Two units comprising 117,000 and 140,000 SQ FT at its new G-Park Milton Keynes development A 88,000 SQ FT unit, Magnitude 88, at GLP’s flagship logistics park Magna Park Milton Keynes The developments are expected to be available for occupancy in Summer 2021, while Magnitude 88 will be available at the end of Q1 2021. As part GLP’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, the sites will all benefit from a range of leading sustainability features including rainwater harvesting, energy monitoring, LED lighting technology and reduced embodied carbon in the construction process. Bruce Topley, Managing Director, GLP UK, said: “The growth of ecommerce in the UK has been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic given the increased importance of home deliveries. As a result, we have seen a surge in demand for logistics real estate in the right locations. Customers are also seeking to reinforce their supply chains and increasingly require higher specification buildings and cutting-edge sustainability credentials. In response to this, we are excited to be bringing 1 million SQ FT of high-quality logistics space to the market which reaffirms our confidence in the continued strength of the UK and follows the completion of over 1.5 million SQ FT of speculative development last year. “All developments are in carefully selected locations with excellent transport links to key areas of the UK. Each unit will be developed with flexibility at the forefront of both the design and construction processes, enabling customers to tailor the space to individual requirements. We look forward to discussions with new and existing customers, working alongside them to meet their specific operational requirements and helping them grow their business.”
HBD Barnfield has marked two major milestones for Beacon 62, an 11.5-acre strategic gateway development in Huyton, Merseyside, with the completion of an 18,000 sq ft Aldi supermarket and detailed planning consent secured for a Euro Garages service station. HBD Barnfield is a joint venture partnership between property developer HBD and Barnfield Group. Barnfield Construction, the construction arm of the wider Barnfield Group, has undertaken all building works on the site, which is adjacent to both the M62 and M57 motorways. With construction works completed, the Aldi store opened to the public in September following a full internal fit out, creating 30 new jobs. This is the fifth contract with supermarket giant Aldi completed by Barnfield Group, with others in Clitheroe, St Helens, Burscough and Rhyl. Bryn Richards, Regional Property Director for Aldi Stores Ltd, commented: “The HBD Barnfield team has worked safely to remain on track and get the project to the completion stage throughout a difficult time for the industry over the last few months. We’ve received really positive comments from the local community who have visited the brand-new store.” Having now secured planning approval for phase two of the development, work will begin on a 2.5-acre plot to be occupied by a Petrol Filling Station (PFS), McDonalds and Starbucks for Blackburn-based Euro Garages. Phase 3 of the scheme comprises a 6-acre plot which has outline planning permission for business and industrial uses (or warehouse and storage subject to planning permission) and full planning permission for a car dealership. Plots are available for design and build opportunities or to buy/lease. When completed, it is expected that the Beacon 62 scheme will create up to 357 new jobs; a huge boost for the local area. Barnfield has extensive experience of leading joint venture companies, having successfully formed and operated several with both private sector and local authority partners, and is looking to grow the development arm of the business over the coming months. The Nelson-headquartered family-run business, which has been operating for more than 40 years, is currently on site delivering a range of mixed-use schemes nationwide across retail, commercial, industrial, residential and healthcare sectors. Tracy Clavell-Bate, Head of Development for Barnfield Group commented: “In a difficult climate, we’re pleased to have successfully delivered the first phase of what will be a popular, vibrant mixed-use scheme, and are looking forward to starting phase two. The final plot also offers another fantastic opportunity to be part of this thriving new business and retail destination.” Dan Lawrenson, Development Surveyor at HBD, said: “Beacon 62 is an important gateway site, which will bring significant investment into the area and create a notable number of new jobs. We have 6-acres now remaining across plots 3 and 4 and look forward to making further occupier announcements in the near future.” HBD is one of the UK’s leading property developers, working across the breadth of the country from seven regional offices. Its diverse portfolio includes big-brand retail, office space and logistics, through to residential innovation and award-winning heritage projects.Savills and Mason Owen have been appointed as joint agents for the scheme.
Stainforth Construction Ltd have been appointed by Barmston Developments a subsidiary of Leeds based Wilton Developments to deliver the final plot on the successful Enterprise 36 industrial park in Tankersley, South Yorkshire. The contractor will start on-site later this month to deliver an 80,500 sq ft HQ building for an undisclosed occupier. Enterprise 36 is a four-unit development located just 1 mile from J36 of the M1. Last year Barmston Developments, advised by CBRE & CPP, completed deals on Unit 4 to William Rowland and Unit 3 to label printing specialists Dura ID Solutions Ltd. Following the letting of Unit 1, just one unit remains available. The available 77,804 sq ft Unit 2 has been speculatively developed to a high specification and is ready for immediate occupation having recently achieved practical completion. The successful development of Enterprise 36 is being supported by Barnsley Council’s Enterprising Barnsley investment team and their nationally recognised BMBC Property Investment Fund. Jason Stowe Managing Director of Wilton Developments said; “Enterprise 36 has proven to be an attractive proposition for occupiers seeking high quality, well-connected accommodation with a range of design and build options. We are delighted to have now secured occupiers for three out of the four units and our agents are handling interest in the remaining unit which is ready for immediate occupation. The creation of new jobs is important more now than ever and we are pleased to be adding more roles to the regional offering.” Mike Baugh, Senior Director at CBRE Leeds, said; “Occupiers have been quick to secure deals at Enterprise 36, recognising the benefits of the scheme’s strategic M1 positioning and attracted by the delivery solutions provided by the developer. The regional logistics sector continues to flourish and we are pleased to have Unit 2 available in an increasingly diminishing supply of high quality well located units in Motorway locations.” Cllr Tim Cheetham, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “We are delighted that yet another business will be moving to Enterprise 36, assisted by our Enterprising Barnsley investment team. Enterprise 36 has been a real success story and demonstrates that by working in partnership with Barmston Developments, with the support of our Property Investment Fund, they have been able to deliver first class industrial premises in an excellent location”. CBRE are acting as joint agents on the scheme with CPP.