Plans for a massive Jaguar Land Rover parts distribution complex on farmland near Ashby could get the green light next week. North West Leicestershire District Council planners have recommended that councillors approve the 2.9m sq ft scheme off junction 11 of the M42, near Appleby Magna. A vote will take
Agreement follows completion and sale of Unit 1, a 45,500 sq ft design and build development to Heartbeat U.K handed over in August. A joint venture between brownfield regeneration specialist St Francis Group and the Richardson family has today announced that it has secured a second occupier at Velocity 42,
Sustainability is a big issue in construction as in other industries. Be this in the use of raw materials or the energy and water used in production of construction products, there is progress being made in reducing the impact of construction on the environment. There is also increased pressure on
An £8 million industrial scheme has been completed by Caddick Construction in Knowsley, Merseyside, boosting the provision of warehouse space in the area. The scheme called Element is part of a bigger development at Network Space’s Alchemy Business Park, which will provide three highly specified industrial warehouse units of 22,900
MARK Pawsey MP has lent his support to an £8m business park development that will bring up to 100 jobs to the West Midlands. The MP for Rugby was given a tour around the 85,000 sq ft Stepnell Park site on Lawford Road, Rugby, which will bring new investment and
The joint venture between Trebor Developments and Hillwood has acquired a 25 acre site in order to develop a 400,000 sq ft building for the logistics sector. The site acquired by the pair is Gateway 4 in Doncaster, near the M18 motorway. A planning application is on its way as the
Construction work has started on a 55,000 sq ft industrial warehouse which is being developed on a speculative basis. MV55 is the newest addition to Markham Vale, a 200-acre industrial and logistics development located at Junction 29A of the M1 – a joint venture between Henry Boot Developments (HBD) and Derbyshire
New research, commissioned by the Association for Project Management (APM) and conducted by PwC UK, has for the first time revealed the scale of the contribution the project profession makes to the UK economy. The new report, entitled ‘The Golden Thread’, has identified that project management in the UK generates
GMI Construction Group, a fast-expanding building and construction services company has announced that it has started construction of a 103,000 sq ft distribution unit at St. Modwen Park Burton (formerly known as Burton Gateway). The new speculative unit, which is being built for expert developer and regeneration specialist, St. Modwen,
The latest technology to deliver engine testing and research into sustainable power concepts has been brought to Coventry with the construction of a new automotive hub. Built by Willmott Dixon, the Centre for Advanced Low-Carbon Propulsion Systems (C-ALPS) houses some of the most advanced test facilities currently in the UK
Plans for a massive Jaguar Land Rover parts distribution complex on farmland near Ashby could get the green light next week. North West Leicestershire District Council planners have recommended that councillors approve the 2.9m sq ft scheme off junction 11 of the M42, near Appleby Magna. A vote will take place at a September 3 planning meeting. West Midlands-based JLR wants to have five units on the site – including two that would be 1 million sq ft in size – to store parts prior to shipment to retailers in UK, North and South America, Europe, Africa and much of Asia. It will also act as a master site for a big distribution centre in Shanghai. JLR has not said how many jobs it would create but it would replace 10 warehouses – including main sites in Desford, Leicestershire, at Bagington in Coventry and Honeybourne, near Stratford – which employ around 1,200 staff. North West Leicestershire District Council said there had been a “significant number” of objections, including from 16 local parish councils as well as North Warwickshire Borough Council. But officers have said there was “strong evidence” of an “immediate need” for the development. They said: “Whilst concerns have been raised by objectors regarding a range of issues, the application is accompanied by an environmental statement which indicates that, subject to appropriate mitigation, these issues or other adverse environmental impacts arising from the proposed development would not indicate a conflict with the development plan as a whole, nor that planning permission ought to be refused.” There have been letters of objection about the height of the buildings and area covered by the site, the impact on the local environment, carbon emissions, the loss of farming land, light pollution and increased traffic. Hinckley and Bosworth MP David Tredinnick said he was opposing the plans along with Market Bosworth county councillor Ivan Ould and North Warwickshire MP Craig Tracey. Peter Snelson, who lives in No Man’s Heath, less than half a mile from the site, said: “Our perception is that the whole scheme is grossly out of scale with the virgin agricultural land of this area. “There will be light pollution 365 days of the year and traffic going in and out 365 days of the year. “The environmental impact will affect people living in this area for ever, no matter what IM Properties says about the wonderful lighting systems they are going to put in. “I’ve got a feeling that house prices will be affected because at the moment you look out on green fields. In two years time you will see grey sheds.” Supporters have included Kevin Harris, chairman of the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership. Mr Harris said: “Leicester and Leicestershire already has significant automotive and logistic strengths due to its central location and strong manufacturing base and the creation of a new global parts logistics centre would bring additional economic benefits to the area by generating new employment and supply chain opportunities for local people and businesses.” JLR would lease the site from property developer IM Properties, taking the lion’s share of 3.6 million sq ft of warehousing the developer wants to erect on the 238 acre farmland site. IM Properties has previously said the overall £350 million distribution park – with buildings ranging in size from 200,000 sq ft up to 1 million sq ft – could create up to 3,000 jobs. A Jaguar Land Rover spokeswoman said “centralising and streamlining” its UK-based global spare parts business would lead to “huge efficiencies”. She said: “This is a long-term plan. We want to start transferring operations in early 2022 with full completion by early 2023. “We will be working with current providers throughout that time to ensure a smooth transition. The new site would be operated by a third party, but it’s way too early to say who that will be. “The existing sites employ about 1,200 people between them. It’s too early to say how many the new site will have, but it’s part of the growth plans of the business, so will be a significant employer.” Asked about potential job losses at other sites and Brexit she said: “It is way too early to talk about the impact on people. “It is absolutely not Brexit related. This is a long-term project, which we began work on in early 2016. “It is absolutely not short-term Brexit planning, because it is a strategic move.” If it gets the go-ahead, work could start next spring with the first unit ready in May, 2021. Kevin Ashfield, UK development director at IM Properties, said there were “very few sites” in the UK which could deliver such a scale of development in the right location for Jaguar Land Rover. He said: “We believe the proposed planning application puts forward a high-quality, sustainable scheme will have huge economic benefits for the local area and retain an important element of the Jaguar Land Rover business in the region.”
Agreement follows completion and sale of Unit 1, a 45,500 sq ft design and build development to Heartbeat U.K handed over in August. A joint venture between brownfield regeneration specialist St Francis Group and the Richardson family has today announced that it has secured a second occupier at Velocity 42, a brand-new warehouse and distribution centre development in Redditch. Unit 5 extending to 93,720 sq ft and the largest unit on the park has been let to Avon Freight Group on a new 15-year lease and comes only weeks after building works were completed on the new five-unit scheme which extends to 330,000 sq ft in total. Unit 1 at 45,500 sq ft has already been sold and is now occupied by Heartbeat UK, a design and manufacturing company. Avon Freight Group a freight/logistics operator already based in Redditch is expecting to move in with immediate effect. The signing of the lease comes at a time of rapid business expansion and new client contracts for the company creating a requirement for additional storage capacity. The facility will be used to handle food products and can store 15,000 pallets. Velocity 42 is part of a 1.1M sq ft development portfolio completed by St Francis within the last 14 months. Commenting on the lease, Gareth Williams at St Francis Group said: “We are delighted to announce the signing of a second occupier so soon after completion of the scheme. This further underpins the decision to develop these units speculatively. The three remaining units are attracting the interest of occupiers with requirements along the M42 corridor and I expect a third announcement will follow soon.” Also commenting Simon Poole, Managing Director at Avon Freight Group said: “This will allow us to not only continue in partnership with our current clients as their needs grow but also to offer a state of the art, new build storage facility for new clients.” Velocity 42 is located at the Park Farm industrial area, Redditch. The three remaining units range from 55,000 sq ft to 85,000 sq ft. Located in a key distribution area in the heart of an excellent logistics network that allows for easy access to locations across the UK, Velocity 42 is the perfect opportunity for any organisation looking to expand or consolidate its operations. Savills and JLL acted for St Francis Group and the Richardson family. Avon Freight Group were advised by local agents John Truslove. For further information visit: www.velocity-42.co.uk
Sustainability is a big issue in construction as in other industries. Be this in the use of raw materials or the energy and water used in production of construction products, there is progress being made in reducing the impact of construction on the environment. There is also increased pressure on companies to look at the sustainability of supplier products and goods further down the supply chain. Brands are being encouraged to take more responsibility and be more conscious of not only the product in terms of the choice of raw ingredients, which affects carbon footprint, or water and energy usage, but also in the choice of packaging. As we are all aware, one of the biggest topics of conversation currently in packaging is plastic. And we can expect continued momentum with regards to reducing the use of plastic as well as on other resources that play a part in product wrapping and promotion. Recent innovation has meant that there are now options available to manufacturers, new alternative materials that make a statement in support of sustainability as well as doing their job in protecting and promoting the product. Biodegradable packaging and label options such as hemp and grass paper, for example, as well as materials that can be up-cycled i.e. bamboo, glass. For those keen to make a first step in the right direction, then a more eco-friendly label is a good start. Paper products that are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified are available which show your labels are made from responsible sources. One of the newest label materials is grass paper. Grass paper consists of 50% sun-dried grass fibre (hay) and 50% FSC-certified paper. Grass paper is made from the rapidly renewable raw material grass, which reduces the use of wood and is therefore particularly sustainable. Grass paper also offers further advantages in comparison to conventional paper. Thanks to short transport times of the grass, CO2 emissions are reduced by up to 50%. Water consumption is also reduced by up to 50% and the grass paper is made without the use of chemicals. Grass paper is free of pollutants and allergens and is ideal for companies that value sustainable and compostable materials and want to set an example for the responsible use of our resources. In the industrial sector, labels need to be exceptionally durable, able to cope with outdoor elements, transport and be resistance to solvents, fuels, oils or abrasion. Labels for chemicals must be resistant to particular stresses so that they remain adhesive and clearly legible for as long as the container is in use. At label.co.uk we print roll labels, self-adhesive labels and film labels made from polypropylene and polyethylene which fulfil all the requirements of hazardous substance labelling. Recent developments have led to an additional more sustainable water-resistant label option, this is the use of a waterproof polymer material made from renewable sources such as sugar cane or corn. Digital label printing in itself, when compared with other technologies, is a much more sustainable way of label printing; it reduces print run wastage for the customer, but also due to the ease of setting up the digital press, the printer produces hardly any waste. Digital printing does not require chemically treated plates, it is quick to set up the machine and it only runs as and when required. Thus saving both time and energy. Now could be the time to re look at your labelling to find a solution that benefits the environment as well as saving both time and cost effective.
An £8 million industrial scheme has been completed by Caddick Construction in Knowsley, Merseyside, boosting the provision of warehouse space in the area. The scheme called Element is part of a bigger development at Network Space’s Alchemy Business Park, which will provide three highly specified industrial warehouse units of 22,900 sq ft, 35,200 sqft and 45,450 sq ft. “Element offers a prime location in Knowsley and enjoys exceptional transport links. This latest speculative development demonstrates the high level of confidence that developers have in Knowsley as a place to invest and do business,” said Dale Milburn, Knowsley Council’s Executive Director for Regeneration and Economic Development. The development, which was supported by a £1.8 million Local Growth Fund grant, has been designed to appeal to a wide range of logistics and industrial occupiers and feature generous self-contained yards, office and car park provision, separated office and yard access with 10m eave heights and dock level access provision on the two larger units. Once let, the Element units could accommodate up to 250 jobs and produce a net additional GVA per annum of £9.90 million for the region. “This is Network Space’s fourth self-financed scheme to complete within the last 12 months, taking the total space delivered within that period to just under 400,000 sq ft across 14 units. Within that same period, we have already let nearly 60% of the space and have good prospects for the remaining units. There remains a shortage of industrial warehouse space across the region and this coupled with the prominence, accessibility, quality and presentation of this scheme makes Element a compelling prospect for future occupiers,” commented Stephen Barnes, Managing Director (Development) at Network Space. B8 and CBRE are the appointed agents for the scheme and both have reported encouraging interest from a range of prospective occupiers.
MARK Pawsey MP has lent his support to an £8m business park development that will bring up to 100 jobs to the West Midlands. The MP for Rugby was given a tour around the 85,000 sq ft Stepnell Park site on Lawford Road, Rugby, which will bring new investment and commercial opportunities to the area. Ten new industrial, warehouse or trade counter buildings make up the first phase of work, which is due for completion later this year. Mr Pawsey said: “Developments such as Stepnell Park are crucial for our local economy. What we see here is a West Midlands-based company that is investing in our local area and demonstrating its commitment to creating jobs in Rugby and beyond. “After touring the site and hearing more about the opportunities it is bringing and will continue to bring throughout its construction, I am delighted to throw my full support behind the development.” The site is being developed by construction company Stepnell, which will look to build its own new head office on the later phases of the development The flagship scheme is being used to showcase Stepnell’s ‘Complete Construction Partner’ approach, with the company acting as landlord, developer, principal contractor and employer’s agent for the site. Edward Wakeford, property director at Stepnell, said: “Stepnell Park demonstrates our ability to offer a complete development service, with our construction team working alongside our in-house property and development team. “We are able to deliver schemes from the planning stages through to practical completion on site, and subsequently manage the development and its tenants. “The site also marks a key investment in our own future, allowing us to create a modern working environment for our employees.” Find out more about Stepnell at stepnell.co.uk or join the conversation @StepnellLtd.
The joint venture between Trebor Developments and Hillwood has acquired a 25 acre site in order to develop a 400,000 sq ft building for the logistics sector. The site acquired by the pair is Gateway 4 in Doncaster, near the M18 motorway. A planning application is on its way as the venture aims to develop the building designed for the logistics sector over the next 12 months. Subject to planning approval, work is due to start on site in the summer and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2020. The development will be marketed by Trebor/Hillwood as Gateway 4, Doncaster. “We are delighted to be acquiring this site from Lazarus Properties and bringing forward such a major transaction in the North. We anticipate our current pipeline of schemes in the North of England delivering in the order of one million sq ft over the next 12 months, in a range of unit sizes,” commented Bob Tattrie, managing partner of Trebor Developments. The agents are CBRE and CPP.
Construction work has started on a 55,000 sq ft industrial warehouse which is being developed on a speculative basis. MV55 is the newest addition to Markham Vale, a 200-acre industrial and logistics development located at Junction 29A of the M1 – a joint venture between Henry Boot Developments (HBD) and Derbyshire County Council. Markham Vale is home to the likes of Great Bear, Gist, Ferdinand Bilstein and Sterigenics. This latest building fronts the M1 and includes flexible office space ranging from 2,500 sq ft – 5,000 sq ft alongside high-quality industrial facilities and 50 on-site parking spaces. Andrew Priestley, Development Surveyor at HBD, said: “Our decision to build our latest unit at Markham Vale on a speculative basis is very much a reflection of the strength of the market and continued demand for high-quality, well located industrial property. There is an acute shortage of good quality industrial space across the Yorkshire and East Midlands markets, particularly for buildings between 20,000 sq ft and 100,000 sq ft, resulting in a high degree of latent demand for new-build product like MV55. “We currently have a total of 108,000 sq ft under construction at Markham Vale, with this latest unit scheduled to complete in September along with Protec International’s new purpose-built premises, which started on site last month. Initial conversations have been very positive – businesses are keen to capitalise on its location as well as the high-quality build, which is something occupiers can always count on from HBD.” Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, Councillor Tony King, added: “This is a great opportunity for another business to join our thriving Markham Vale site. This plot has a lot to offer with great links to the M1 and a skilled workforce, high-quality industrial facilities and flexible office space.”
New research, commissioned by the Association for Project Management (APM) and conducted by PwC UK, has for the first time revealed the scale of the contribution the project profession makes to the UK economy. The new report, entitled ‘The Golden Thread’, has identified that project management in the UK generates around £156.5 billion of annual Gross Value Added (GVA) and that an estimated 2.13 million full-time equivalent workers (FTEs) are employed in the UK project management profession. This means around 7.9 per cent of UK employment (full time equivalents FTEs) delivers almost nine percent (8.9%) of total UK GVA. The new APM and PwC report seeks to highlight the contribution of the project profession to all aspects of UK plc, and reveals that the profession generates GVA that far outstrips other cross-business activity such as design, law and marketing. Debbie Dore, chief executive of APM welcomed the report stating: “Project management has for too long been cast as a ‘Cinderella’ or ‘hidden’ profession, working hard behind the scenes to ensure other’s success. But this new report recasts the profession into the role of a ‘golden thread’ – a seam that runs through UK plc, helping to develop new services, drive strategic change and sector-wide reform. In short, this report finds that the project profession is a thread truly woven into the fabric of UK societal and economic success.” Having established the real value of the profession, APM, the chartered body for the project profession, is now building on these findings to raise a red flag, warning of the factors that could inhibit the potential growth of the profession’s economic contribution. Of particular concern is the potential for a growing skills gap which, if not addressed, could lead to the rise of the ‘accidental project manager’ – employees without any recognised professional standards or training, who are given project management roles – decisions that can often jeopardise project success. Debbie Dore explains “Our report suggests that the contribution from and demand for the project profession is more extensive than many commentators thought and is set to increase. This could lead to demand for qualified and experienced project personnel starting to outstrip supply – ultimately leading to the failure of increasing numbers of projects. That’s why this report highlights to business, government and the education sector, the importance of training, development and professional standards (such as chartership) as the best way to develop a talent pool that is to scale and fit for purpose in today and tomorrow’s world.” Measured optimism PwC interviewed over 400 businesses for The Golden Thread and concluded that, as recognition of the importance of good project management grows, so too does the level of optimism among organisations in all sectors about the future of project management. 40 per cent of those interviewed in this research predicted a growth in projects, and 34 per cent were expecting project budgets to grow over the next three years. However, the report concludes that challenges remain – with over half of organisations (52 per cent) expressing concern over the current uncertainties caused by government policy – and just over one third (35 per cent) ranking this as the single greatest challenge of the past three years – with 56 per cent of businesses forecasting that this will still be an issue by 2021. Skills shortage Skills and capability shortages were also cited in the report as a potential barrier by a third of organisations questioned. Having access to enough people with the right project management skills and capabilities in the UK is a concern for 39 per cent and financial pressures leading to severe cost containment issues is a worry for 37 per cent. 32 per cent and 39 per cent of businesses respectively expect these to continue to be a challenge in the next three years. Sectoral trends Types of projects undertaken vary from sector to sector, but overall IT and digital transformations and new product development projects tend to dominate with 55 per cent and 46 per cent of organisations respectively having undertaken these types of project in the past year. Perhaps not surprisingly, in the construction and local government sectors, fixed capital projects are the main project type undertaken. Sandie Grimshaw, Partner, PwC UK explains the need for the UK to focus on skills further: “As ‘megaprojects’ increase in size and complexity, project professionals’ skills and attributes will need to change and adapt to handle media and political pressure along with strategic stakeholders in ways that are akin to professional diplomats. Whilst the UK has a strong and growing number of project professionals, this research helps to provide a better baseline for the skills sets and numbers of professionals required to support the capability for delivering projects – both large and small – in the years ahead.”
GMI Construction Group, a fast-expanding building and construction services company has announced that it has started construction of a 103,000 sq ft distribution unit at St. Modwen Park Burton (formerly known as Burton Gateway). The new speculative unit, which is being built for expert developer and regeneration specialist, St. Modwen, will include a 50m deep yard, 10 dock levellers (including 2 euro-docks) and grade A office space. Due to be completed this September, the unit further expands the industrial and logistics offering at the 1 million sq ft site. Once occupied, it could create in excess of 120 jobs in addition to the significant number of construction jobs created during the build. Work begins just a month after St. Modwen announced it had attracted two new tenants to the Park, with Supply Technologies taking a 25,446 sq ft unit and Keylite Roof Windows leasing a 40,730 sq ft unit, both of which were delivered as part of the second phase of development. Speaking about the announcement Martin Watson, Construction Director at GMI Construction, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded our second contract at St. Modwen Park Burton. Our commitment to deliver another quality product on time for St Modwen will be our ultimate focus moving forward.” Also commenting, Steven Smith, Senior Construction Manager at St. Modwen, said: “We are pleased to have instructed GMI Construction Group on this latest phase. GMI is a well-respected construction company and we have great confidence in the team’s ability to deliver this quality unit.” With Rob Richardson, Senior Development Manager at St. Modwen, going on to say “St. Modwen Park Burton has proven to be an incredibly popular site. This further investment is not only testament to our confidence in the Park, but in the wider industrial and logistics market in the Midlands.” Birmingham-based property agents Savills and Knight Frank are marketing the scheme on behalf of St. Modwen. Katie Aitchison, Associate Director at Savills, and Edward Kennerley, Associate at Knight Frank, said: “We are looking forward to unveiling the completed unit in September. The business park has attracted some excellent names and we’re confident that this additional unit will satisfy the demand for well-connected B2 and B8 space, attracting more great businesses and creating a significant number of jobs in the region.” St. Modwen Park Burton is one of the largest warehouse developments in the Midlands and is a key employment hub for East Staffordshire. The site already has more than 200,000 sq ft of space and is home to major names including Hellman Worldwide Logistics, who occupied the first unit in 2016. Strategically located adjacent to the A38, on the southern approach to Burton-upon-Trent, the site offers strong links to the M42 and A50. Nearby occupiers include Pirelli, Unilever, Boots, Holland & Barrett, Argos and Toyota.
The latest technology to deliver engine testing and research into sustainable power concepts has been brought to Coventry with the construction of a new automotive hub. Built by Willmott Dixon, the Centre for Advanced Low-Carbon Propulsion Systems (C-ALPS) houses some of the most advanced test facilities currently in the UK and is available to car makers, airplane manufacturers, small and medium-sized companies to accelerate the creation of new powertrain solutions for use across automotive, aerospace, marine and rail sectors. “It is a pleasure to be working with Coventry University and FEV to create this cutting-edge facility. Research into low carbon technologies is incredibly important and, as a carbon neutral business, it is something close to the heart of all of us at Willmott Dixon. It was a challenging build, but thanks to strong relationships and communication between all partners, C-ALPS has been a great success,” said Peter Owen, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the Midlands. “Similarly, the constrained location came with its challenges due to being surrounded by businesses, a church, a university and residential areas – it’s very different to most of other FEV sites around the world which are normally located miles away from other buildings. Because of this, our design partner Broadway Malyan designed its cladding to blend in with the environment and complement the site’s location,” Peter added. The hub will allow experts from across the world to conduct research into vehicle hybridisation, electrification, plus enhancement of conventional and alternative fuel-based powertrains to meet the requirements of future transportation and future cities. It is part of a long-term collaboration between Coventry University and FEV, the international leader in design and development of advanced gasoline, diesel and hybrid powertrains and vehicle systems. The development has created five testing cells, offices, a workshop, car parking and soft landscaping. It has created strong links into the engineering industry for Coventry University and in turn, will create fantastic opportunities for students and Coventry itself.