Planning permission is now being sought for the second stage of Frontier Park, Blackburn, off the Whitebirk roundabout next to M65 junction six, with construction scheduled to start in March for completion by Christmas. Alex Kenwright, development manager for the project, has revealed three new tenants for its existing warehouse
Whether it’s the food takeaway industry utilising mobile apps or sports events using video assisted refereeing, technological advances are helping our world progress and become better. With this in mind, it’s clear that technology is evolving across every business, allowing companies to become more productive and efficient. Computer systems, such
J Tomlinson has handed over a new £5.2m industrial park in Market Harborough, which is set to create more than 200 jobs. Airfield Business Park – developed by Leicestershire County Council – will boost business and employment opportunities in the town and the local economy. A range of high-spec industrial
Industrial asset manager Chancerygate has sold more than half of the available units at its £33m Novus business park in Knutsford, after selling a further four units to two companies. Industrial valve manufacturer Oliver Valves acquired three units totalling 17,300 sq ft at the under-construction business park, increasing the company’s
Feed, fuel and food distributor NWF Group plc has snapped up a new warehouse which has been built off the A500. The Nantwich business, which is headquartered in Wardle, has secured a 12-year lease on the 240,000 square-foot building on Crewe Commercial Park. Ambient grocery distribution and storage specialists Boughey
Bassetlaw District Council has granted planning approval for a 2.5 million square foot logistics and business park next to the A1 in Nottinghamshire. The development, to be built in Harworth, will comprise units ranging from 100,000 square foot to 800,000sq ft. Planning consultancy Barton Willmore secured the permission on behalf
Plans for a massive logistics centre believed to be for online retailer Amazon have been unveiled by its developer. It is thought the online giant could create up to 3,500 jobs with the 1.6m sq ft logistics fulfilment centre next to the A66 in Darlington. The identity of the site’s
Industrial space has been boosted in Liverpool with the completion of the third phase of development at Stonebridge Business Park. Caddick Construction delivered the six-month project on behalf of St Modwen, which included the delivery of a further 52,000 sq ft of industrial space at the 30-acre site. Ian Threadgold,
Plans have been lodged for a new £125m large warehouse in West Yorkshire for retail giant Next, which could lend the region to more than 1,000 jobs. Next, supported by Q+A Planning and pHp Architects, has submitted an application to Wakefield Council for a site south of Field Lane in
Construction work has officially begun on a new distribution centre based at Optimus Point in Leicestershire for laboratory and medical equipment supplier, Sarstedt Limited The facility was granted planning permission in the summer following the appointment of construction consultancy Gleeds by Wilson Bowden Developments. Gleeds is acting as the employer’s
Planning permission is now being sought for the second stage of Frontier Park, Blackburn, off the Whitebirk roundabout next to M65 junction six, with construction scheduled to start in March for completion by Christmas. Alex Kenwright, development manager for the project, has revealed three new tenants for its existing warehouse and industrial units and said that a further one is in the final legal stages of letting. This leaves just one small unit of 20,000 square feet left to fill out of the initial 400,000. The development by Blackburn’s Issa brothers aims to bring 2,000 jobs when completed in spring next year, earlier than scheduled. It includes one of the brothers’ Euro Garages service areas and a 150-bedroom Hampton by Hilton hotel with a conference and banqueting centre, construction of which is on track to end later this year. Cllr Miles Parkinson, leader of Hyndburn Council, said: “This is an important development for the whole of East Lancashire. It has come on by leaps and bounds and the jobs are now flowing in. Everything that was promised is being delivered.” The largest 185,000 sq ft warehouse has been taken by MDA, part of European Logistics giant The Stacci Group, to service their existing Walker Park, Blackburn, operation. The Modular Group has moved from smaller premises in Blackburn into a 30,000 sq ft unit to expand its business manufacturing and distributing garden and office sheds and cabins and structurally insulated panels for easy-build houses. An 80,000 sq ft warehouse has been let to Royal Sanders, a global supplier of soap and personal care products. Hyndburn supplier of dryers, ovens and coolers to industry, Tek-Dry Systems Limited, had previously taken 60,000 sq ft of space. Mr Kenwright said: “The last 12 months have been great. We have seen take-up of 95 per cent of available space bringing dozens of jobs initially with more to come. Our aim is to have the park fully built and let by spring 2021.” Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s regeneration boss, said: “The progress of this development is great for East Lancashire as a whole. It sends put a message this is area to invest in.” The new phase of development, totalling almost 300,000 sq ft has been designed to provide units of between 50,000 and 150,000 sq ft along with a phase of smaller starter units between 3,000 and 5,000 sq ft. Caroline James of estate agents Trevor Dawson said: “Frontier Park is almost fully let and is now established as a prime location for manufacturing and logistics.”
Whether it’s the food takeaway industry utilising mobile apps or sports events using video assisted refereeing, technological advances are helping our world progress and become better. With this in mind, it’s clear that technology is evolving across every business, allowing companies to become more productive and efficient. Computer systems, such as warehouse management systemsand CRM’s have the possibility to increase productivity of staff, while analytics allow you to judge what updates are needed and when. What printing techniques are there available? In any manufacturing company, human error can be extremely costly. That’s where 3D printing can come into play. While it’s still early days for the technology, digital printinghas the potential to have a massive impact on practicality. It’s expected that this invention will transform nearly every industry as it changes how manufacturers will do business and will impact material costs, the traditional assembly line and product pricing strategies. They are particularly handy as automated printers, like those used by Voodoo Manufacturing, don’t need to be manned anymore and can continue working 24 hours a day. The use of robotics isn’t aimed at replacing humans, but more so making employees’ jobs easier. Drones Drones can impact a company massively, saving almost 12 hours on each inspection and reducing the time it takes to check the equipment from 12 hours to 12 minutes. Not only can drones provide a quick and thorough inspection, but they eliminate the health and safety risk of someone needing to scale up to 150 feet to look at gantries. They have started to use drones to help perform risky inspections on the factory’s equipment in it’s Dagenham engine plant. The company is benefitting massively, Drones are also particularly good at providing the company with video and still footage that can be stored to allow the plant to compare its findings over a period of time to monitor any changes or patterns that are noticeable. This has become an indispensable tool for the factory, with the drones greatly improving productivity and efficiency. What does the future of embedded metrology bring? The process of quality control can traditionally be a very time-consuming and expensive project. There would be randomly selected machine-made parts that would be individually tested, and if they passed the test, the batch it came from would be validated. This process can’t be too reliable, as faulty parts may well be produced in a batch and slip through after the checks. That’s why the ever-improving embedded metrology will continue to help manufacturers produce a better product. This quick and convenient solution is a lot more accurate and requires little human interference. Bodysuits It was announced in 2017 that line workers in the plant would pilot exoskeleton suits — wearable technology that can help support a worker’s arms while they undergo tasks above their heads. Ford’s Michigan plant is also using innovative technological developments to help its workforce. These suits can also be adjusted to support different weights, depending on the wearer’s needs. While such suits were more likely to appear on the big screen in movies such as Iron Manjust a few years ago, the creation is having positive feedback from its users in the real life world. In the future, it’s anticipated that this human aspect can be removed completely, with technology helping to provide a fully integrated and fully automated form of quality control. While some of the public are concerned that jobs will be lost as it keeps progressing, it can only be a good thing for manufacturing companies as it continues to help improve productivity and efficiency. It will be interesting to see what we welcome to factories next! Technology is continuing to amaze us in all walks of life. The automotive industry is no different, either, taking advantage of new inventions. It’s not only our cars that are benefitting from technological advances, though — the manufacturing industry is, too. Lookers, Ford Servicingspecialists, are an example of this too! Sources https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/31/ford-is-using-drones-to-keep-an-eye-on-its-factories.html www.thedrive.com/sheetmetal/15921/exoskeletons-unveiled-at-ford-manufacturing-plant https://matrixrecruitment.ie/5-innovative-technologies-solve-manufacturing-problems-2018/ https://www.insight.com/en_US/learn/content/2017/04112017-3-manufacturing-technology-trends-shaping-factories-of-the-future.html
J Tomlinson has handed over a new £5.2m industrial park in Market Harborough, which is set to create more than 200 jobs. Airfield Business Park – developed by Leicestershire County Council – will boost business and employment opportunities in the town and the local economy. A range of high-spec industrial units ranging from 1,570 to 33,360 sq. ft (145 to 3,099 sq. m.) has been built. Darroch Baker, construction managing director at J Tomlinson, said: “It has been a pleasure to be involved in the creation of this exciting new business park in partnership with Leicestershire County Council. “It is great to see the high level of interest in these high-spec, energy efficient units, and we hope this becomes a thriving business hub in which the tenants enjoy their new premises.” The first business to sign up and move into one of the units is Fasten-It Ltd, which supplies products for the UPVC roofline, door and window fitting industry. Byron Rhodes, deputy county council leader, said: “It is great to see this venture complete and ready for new and existing businesses. Supporting businesses is important; it helps boost our local economy and creates jobs. Investing in property also enables us to generate extra income which we can then plough back into frontline services.” The site also features 692 solar panels, which are part of the council’s ongoing commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030. Several other companies have already shown an interest in renting the units, with six of the 12 units reserved by prospective tenants. J Tomlinson, based at Beeston near Nottingham, operates primarily across the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire. For more information visit www.jtomlinson.co.uk
Industrial asset manager Chancerygate has sold more than half of the available units at its £33m Novus business park in Knutsford, after selling a further four units to two companies. Industrial valve manufacturer Oliver Valves acquired three units totalling 17,300 sq ft at the under-construction business park, increasing the company’s presence at the Parkgate Industrial Estate, which lies to the east of the Novus development. Oliver Valves’ chairman, Michael Oliver, said: “We have been present on Parkgate Industrial Estate for more than 40 years and Novus provided the perfect opportunity for us to buy a Grade A industrial facility and ensure our long-term growth plans were catered for.” Meanwhile, cosmetics distributor Wellness Trading acquired a single unit measuring 6,000 sq ft. The values of the deals were not disclosed. Novus is a 252,000 sq ft industrial and warehouse development across 16-acres of the established Parkgate Industrial Estate, and is currently Chancerygate’s largest scheme in the north of England. Work to develop the first phase of the scheme is underway after Caddick Construction was awarded a £10.7m contract last September, and is expected to complete in September 2020. This week’s deals mark the first tranche of speculative sales at the development and mean 55% of the nine available units have been acquired. A further four units, ranging from 14,000 sq ft to 25,000 sq ft, remain available. Chancerygate development manager Chris Brown, said: “Securing occupiers for more than half of our flagship North West development only two months into the build is an excellent achievement. “The swift take-up of these units is testament to the pent-up demand in Knutsford from owner-occupiers for high-quality industrial and warehouse space, and the limited options available to businesses for many years now. We look forward to continued discussions with potential occupiers ahead of completion in September 2020.” Phase two of the project will comprise 12 units ranging between 3,500 and 70,000 sq ft in size with work expected to begin in the summer. Last March, car dealer Sytner secured a long-term lease on a 36,361 sq ft unit on the development.
Feed, fuel and food distributor NWF Group plc has snapped up a new warehouse which has been built off the A500. The Nantwich business, which is headquartered in Wardle, has secured a 12-year lease on the 240,000 square-foot building on Crewe Commercial Park. Ambient grocery distribution and storage specialists Boughey Distribution Ltd – a wholly-owned subsidiary of NWF Group – will operate the ‘Crewe 240’ building which will act as a consolidation hub for a major new customer contract. Existing warehousing operations at NWF’s Wardle site will continue as normal. Rob Andrew, company secretary at NWF Group, said: “NWF are delighted to have worked with Panattoni to negotiate the letting of Crewe 240. “The high bay, high specification unit provides a strategically located distribution facility for the expansion of the Boughey business, with the proximity to the M6 and our existing main warehousing hub at Wardle being a key driver to our decision-making process.” In addition to Crewe 240, logistics buildings developer Panattoni recently submitted plans to build a new, 305,000 square-foot warehouse – completed with integrated three-storey offices and a security gatehouse – on the same 14-acre plot. The developer predicts that ‘Crewe 305’ will add £3 million to the local economy per year and bring over 300 full-time jobs. Dan Burn, development director at Panattoni, said: “We are delighted to have secured a letting to NWF Group plc, so soon after practical completion. This is a significant deal for the North West market and underpins the resilience in demand for well-located, speculatively built warehousing.” Legat Owen acted as joint agents on the scheme with CBRE and Burbage Realty. Avison Young acted for NWF Group.
Bassetlaw District Council has granted planning approval for a 2.5 million square foot logistics and business park next to the A1 in Nottinghamshire. The development, to be built in Harworth, will comprise units ranging from 100,000 square foot to 800,000sq ft. Planning consultancy Barton Willmore secured the permission on behalf of Mulberry Commercial Developments. The consultancy said the scheme would see the creation of nearly 3,000 jobs. Dan Mitchell, partner at Barton Willmore, said: “As well as economic growth and the creation of thousands of new local job opportunities, the larger warehouse units in Harworth will give their occupiers much greater flexibility in their day-to-day operations with the added bonus of being located close to air, sea, rail links and of course the motorway network via the A1.” Mark Day, development director at Mulberry Developments, added: “The logistics sector, led by retailers and third-party logistics operators, has moved towards very large-scale regional distribution centres at key transport locations, and this new planning consent enables us to respond to the demand with a logistics park of the very highest quality to serve the North Midlands and South Yorkshire markets.”
Plans for a massive logistics centre believed to be for online retailer Amazon have been unveiled by its developer. It is thought the online giant could create up to 3,500 jobs with the 1.6m sq ft logistics fulfilment centre next to the A66 in Darlington. The identity of the site’s operator has not been officially confirmed but national logistics developer db symmetry has secured a £120m letting at Symmetry Park and said the tenant is a ‘world-leading retailer’. Now db symmetry, in partnership with landowners Durham Cathedral, has unveiled how the development will look when finished, bringing a major economic asset to the Tees Valley. Construction for Symmetry Park is gaining momentum with the steelwork already completed for the first phase of the £100m logistics and distribution hub. ISG Construction is main contractor for the building. Symmetry Park, Darlington is a 90-acre site located on the A66, seven miles from Junction 57 of the A1 motorway and 20 miles from Tees Port. Since acquiring the site last November, db symmetry has secured planning consent for over 1.6m sq ft of B1, B2 and B8 uses and intends to gain outline consent for a further 500,000 sq ft on the remaining 37 acres. db symmetry recently hosted an event in Newcastle to officially launch the scheme to North East agents representing the potential occupier market with a strong marketing drive to showcase the key attributes of the site in terms of specification and location. With the potential to create around 3,500 new jobs and contribute £180m to the regional economy, the developer said Symmetry Park Darlington is a significant new asset for regional and national investment. Andrew Dickman, director at db symmetry said: “We are pleased to formally bring Symmetry Park Darlington to market as an exceptionally strong proposition to those seeking a base in the North East. Having already pre-let a significant proportion of the site to a high calibre operator, we are in a strong position with funding in place and full site infrastructure construction underway. “We can offer bespoke design and build options from 50,000 sq ft to 500,000 sq ft and potential for roadside amenities in the form of a hotel, a petrol filling station, drive through, restaurants and offices.” Colliers International is jointly advising db symmetry with Gent Visick and Carter Jonas. Durham Cathedral was represented by Carter Jonas. The project team includes Lichfields, GVA, Harris Partnership, JPG and Desco.
Industrial space has been boosted in Liverpool with the completion of the third phase of development at Stonebridge Business Park. Caddick Construction delivered the six-month project on behalf of St Modwen, which included the delivery of a further 52,000 sq ft of industrial space at the 30-acre site. Ian Threadgold, head of Caddick Construction’s North West office, said: “We have a successful, long standing relationship with St Modwen, having delivered earlier phases at Stonebridge Business Park and a retail park at Great Homer Street in Liverpool. This latest Design and Build scheme at Stonebridge is providing a further boost to the local economy in this prime location.” Stuart Murray, development director at St Modwen added: “Stonebridge Business Park is a key strategic site in the north west and plays an important role in the region. “The scheme has attracted some major players in the logistics sector due to its ideal location and we’re confident that the site will continue to be of interest to high-calibre tenants who are looking for flexible, quality space.”
Plans have been lodged for a new £125m large warehouse in West Yorkshire for retail giant Next, which could lend the region to more than 1,000 jobs. Next, supported by Q+A Planning and pHp Architects, has submitted an application to Wakefield Council for a site south of Field Lane in South Elmsall. Full planning permission is sought for a 777,000 sq ft facility comprising warehouse space and ancillary offices. A new pedestrian bridge would be built to link the new facility with Next’s existing operations north of Field Lane. The proposal also includes 47 HGV loading bays and road infrastructure works. The proposed development represents a capital investment £125m. It has been estimated to provide about 1,100 new jobs (including construction jobs) for Wakefield, of which more than half will be net additional roles. It could also generate an estimated gross value added (GVA) to the economy of more than £46m per annum. The new warehousing and distribution unit is required to cope with an expected increase in online sales for Next in the coming years. A planning statement submitted as part of the application said the proposed development would provide an “extension of the local purchasing, recruitment, skills development, career progression and community benefits already associated with the existing Next distribution operations in South Elmsall”. It would also assist in “safeguarding the future of Next’s existing operations in South Elmsall, and the substantial local employment and benefits to the local economy that this existing development provides”.
Construction work has officially begun on a new distribution centre based at Optimus Point in Leicestershire for laboratory and medical equipment supplier, Sarstedt Limited The facility was granted planning permission in the summer following the appointment of construction consultancy Gleeds by Wilson Bowden Developments. Gleeds is acting as the employer’s agent and project manager. The new distribution centre will be located on 5.3 acres of land at Plot 10 Optimus Point, Glenfield and requires the construction of a 61,640 square foot unit. It will include two-storey offices and core facilities. Other requirements of the site include associated external parking, a service yard, and landscaped areas. The facility is the latest addition to Optimus Point, a 65-acre development scheme that sits next to Junction 21a of the M1, featuring a range of local and national industrial warehouse operators. Construction is already underway and is expected to take 36-weeks, with an anticipated completion date of 1 May 2020. Cat Hartley, group manager for planning and economic development, Blaby District Council, said: “Sarstedt’s move to Optimus Point will deliver significant and permanent economic benefits to the District of Blaby. Up to 60 jobs will be retained locally.” Anthony Cork, director, Gleeds, commented: “There is no doubt that this new base will help Sarstedt improve its storage, logistics, and distribution with enhanced and modernised facilities, and it’s great to be starting on site. “Through our appointment as Employers Agent, we will look to use our significant skills in this sector to deliver a successful project for all parties.” Henry Henson, development manager at Wilson Bowden, added: “We are pleased that another local Leicestershire based company has decided to relocate to our Optimus Point development site, following in the footsteps of DPD, Boden, Everards, James Latham and Geary’s Bakeries. “These deals demonstrate that there has been extensive pent up demand by local occupiers, looking for high quality industrial/ warehouse accommodation within the local area and Optimus Point offers them this ideal opportunity.”