Despite a four year delay, the latest research by London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has found that house prices surrounding Crossrail stations are still largely outperforming the wider areas in which they are located. Last week, a ‘crucial milestone’ was reached as testing began on the long-awaited
Construction and civil engineering specialist firm GRAHAM has commenced works on the construction of a new £16 million railway station in Exeter. The new two-platform station will be delivered in collaboration with Devon County Council, who provided the initial concept design, which GRAHAM then utilized in a Design and Build
Global building materials solutions supplier CEMEX has made another strategic investment for growth into its Selby Asphalt Plant and Depot to enhance its overall operation efficiency. The Selby site supplies high quality aggregates and asphalt across the Yorkshire region. Together with Bowker, its logistics partner at Selby, and Potter Space
A construction site has a lot going on all at the same time. Some of the workers are busy mixing cement, some are working on the structure, some are operating the heavy machinery, and so on. Given how many tasks are simultaneously going on at a construction site, there are
The long-awaited £90m Congleton link road has opened to traffic. The occasion was marked by a colourful cavalcade of more than 50 classic cars driven by local enthusiasts along the 5.5km newly named Wolstenholme Elmy Way. The procession of vehicles, which included a ‘Batmobile’, high-performance sports cars and vehiclesdating from the early part
Associated British Ports (ABP) has appointed ByrneLooby as lead engineering consultant to provide the design phase of the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF). This project will provide significant re-engineering of the existing quayside in the outer harbour, creating a modern port that supports the renewable energy industry. ByrneLooby’s marine team will deliver
The largest harbour crane in the UK arrived at Able Seaton Port on Thursday 20th February, marking a major step forward in Able UK’s expansion of its port facilities on both the Tees and the Humber. See featured images which shows the crane arriving at Able Seaton Port (home page
HS2 today began the search for a specialist contractor to build the high speed rail project’s central control centre and maintenance depot, which will create around 500 long-term jobs in Birmingham’s Washwood Heath. The contract – worth an estimated £275m – will see the winning bidder work with HS2 Ltd
As one of Europe’s largest business hubs, London is a great place to do business. With the right strategy, you can be sure to grow your brand name from oblivion to an internationally acclaimed brand. One of the challenges that most businesses face as they enter the expansion phase is
Civil engineering specialist contractor GRAHAM has completed a £15m redevelopment of the Victoria Terminal 2 (VT2) ferry terminal ramp which services the Belfast to Birkenhead route. The existing berth has been upgraded to handle the next generation of modern Roll-On / Roll-Off (RoRo) ferry vessels, Stena Line’s new E-Flexer series
Despite a four year delay, the latest research by London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has found that house prices surrounding Crossrail stations are still largely outperforming the wider areas in which they are located. Last week, a ‘crucial milestone’ was reached as testing began on the long-awaited Crossrail route and the research by Benham and Reeves shows that, on average, property values in postcodes home to a Crossrail station sit 17% higher than the wider area. Current Crossrail Property Price Premiums Current property prices in postcodes due to benefit from a Crossrail station currently average £572,686, 17% higher compared to the average £490,429 across the wider districts in which they are found. Tottenham Court Road is home to the highest Crossrail boost, with property prices in the W1 postcode currently averaging just shy of £2m, 140% higher than the wider borough of Camden (£822,936). Bond Street (97%), Liverpool Street (55%), Twyford (40%), Gidea Park (32%), Iver (27%), Whitechapel (26%), West Ealing (22%), Shenfield (21%) and Canary Wharf (17%) are also home to some of the largest Crossrail property price premiums. Crossrail Property Price Growth Since Crossrail was approved in July 2008, property values in postcodes due to benefit from a station have climbed by 65% on average, far higher than the 39% seen across the UK. Crossrail stations within London have seen prices increase at an even greater rate, up 71% since 2008, although this rate of growth sits at the same level as London as a whole. Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street have, again, seen the biggest boost with values in the W1 postcode climbing by 172%. Woolwich has also seen a notable jump with property prices up 122%, along with West Ealing (97%), Twyford (92%) and Maryland and Stratford (89%). However, the research by Benham and Reeves shows that in addition to Crossrail station house prices sitting 17% higher than their wider areas today, this premium has also increased from 14% since it was first approved. This boost in Crossrail house prices is even more substantial across some stations. In 2008, property prices in Tottenham Court Road’s W1 postcode were 39% higher than the wider area of Camden. However, today this premium sits at 140%, a 101% increase in the price premium paid for Crossrail properties. Crossrail also seems to be reversing negative price trends found around stations due to benefit. In Woolwich, for example, the average house price in the Crossrail postcode of SE18 was £181,022 in 2008, -23% lower than the wider borough of Greenwich (£233,729). Today, the average price in the postcode has increased to £401,326 and while it remains lower than the average for Greenwich as a whole (£421,221), this gap has closed to just -5%. In other areas, Crossrail house prices have seen a complete turnaround. In 2008, the average property price in the IG postcode (£254,328), home to the Goodmayes and Seven Kings Crossrail stations, came in -6% below the wider borough of Redbridge (£271,019). Today, the postcode is home to an average property price of £478,831, 5% higher than the average of £456,098 seen across Redbridge as a whole – an 11% swing on the premium paid for homes close to the Crossrail station. Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr, commented: “Despite the ongoing and extensive delays, Crossrail remains one of the most eagerly anticipated developments to the London landscape in recent times. It’s set to transform the way we traverse the capital by train and will substantially shorten journey times for both Londoners, and those commuting from further afield. So it’s hardly surprising that despite its late arrival, many areas due to benefit continue to see a substantial rate of property price growth, with homes surrounding a Crossrail station also commanding a notable premium when compared to the wider area in which they are located. This strong market performance also comes against a backdrop of Covid uncertainty which has seen London underperform to some extent when compared to other regions of the UK. However, the capital has started to regain momentum with many now returning to work as lockdown restrictions are eased and so we expect to see house prices along the Crossrail route continue to climb as its launch approaches.” Table shows the top 10 Crossrail stations with the largest property price premium when compared to the wider area CrossRail Station Outcode Average Crossrail Postcode Property Price Wider area Average Property Price Difference (%) Tottenham Court Road W1 £1,972,185 Camden £822,936 140% Bond Street W1 £1,972,185 City of Westminster £1,000,560 97% Liverpool Street EC2 £1,046,782 City of London £675,309 55% Twyford RG10 £581,908 Wokingham £416,164 40% Gidea Park RM2 £500,367 Havering £378,213 32% Iver SL0 £534,069 Buckinghamshire £419,428 27% Whitechapel E1 £574,017 Tower Hamlets £455,633 26% West Ealing W13 £634,733 Ealing £520,674 22% Shenfield CM15 £538,243 Brentwood £445,723 21% Canary Wharf E14 £533,976 Tower Hamlets £455,633 17% Average £572,686 Average £490,429 17% Table shows the top 10 largest increases in Crossrail house prices since the scheme was approved in July 2008 CrossRail Station Outcode Average Crossrail Property Price – July 2008 Current Average Crossrail Property Price Change % Tottenham Court Road/Bond Street W1 £725,603 £1,972,185 172% Woolwich SE18 £181,022 £401,326 122% West Ealing W13 £322,644 £634,733 97% Twyford RG10 £303,248 £581,908 92% Maryland/Stratford E15 £232,879 £439,325 89% Goodmayes/Seven Kings IG3 £254,328 £478,831 88% Abbey Wood SE2 £196,698 £368,266 87% Forest Gate E7 £234,723 £437,470 86% Manor Park E12 £222,916 £401,192 80% Romford RM1 £199,635 £354,024 77% Average (All Crossrail Stations) £322,981 £534,284 65% Average (London Crossrail Stations) £329,637 £564,046 71% Average UK House Price £290,261 £496,269 39% Average London House Price £179,845 £250,341 71% Table shows the top 10 Crossrail stations to see the biggest change in property price difference vs the wider area between 2008 and now CrossRail Station Outcode Wider area Crossrail property price vs wider area 2008 Crossrail property price vs wider area 2021 Change in Crossrail price
Construction and civil engineering specialist firm GRAHAM has commenced works on the construction of a new £16 million railway station in Exeter. The new two-platform station will be delivered in collaboration with Devon County Council, who provided the initial concept design, which GRAHAM then utilized in a Design and Build Contract, along with Network Rail, and train operating company GWR. The project will also involve the construction of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge that will supplement the new station, which GRAHAM will also deliver using its vast engineering expertise. The new bridge will provide step free access to the station and improve ‘active travel’ links (cycling and walking) between Alphington, Marsh Barton and the Riverside Valley Park. Once complete, the station will be located near the ‘Energy from Waste’ plant on the eastern edge of Marsh Barton industrial estate. The new station will accommodate services for more than 7,000 people employed at Marsh Barton, while there are also development plans for around 2,500 new homes across the estate, which is currently used for light industrial and office space, along with several car showrooms. From the end of May, there will be a road closure to vehicles at Clapperbrook Lane East for an estimated 14 months, however the route will remain open for access to pedestrians and cyclists throughout that period. Discussing the project, GRAHAM’s Civil Engineering Managing Director, Leo Martin, said: “We’re delighted to be working on this much-needed and anticipated railway station for residents living along the routes of Teignbridge, Exeter and East Devon. It will provide access to excellent job and leisure opportunities in the area while the new pedestrian and cycle bridge will encourage heathier travel choices. “GRAHAM is committed to providing projects that deliver lasting impact and our experience in the rail sector is vast and wide-ranging. This latest scheme adds to our impressive portfolio, which also includes several projects we are delivering this year for Crossrail alongside Network Rail.” A spokesperson for Devon County Council said: “The station is a core element of the Devon Metro rail strategy for Exeter and is central to supporting economic growth to the south west of Exeter and to the Marsh Barton employment area itself, as well as Dawlish and Newton Abbot.” The new station will serve passengers on the Exmouth to Paignton line, via Exeter Central and St. David’s, a route operated by GWR.
Global building materials solutions supplier CEMEX has made another strategic investment for growth into its Selby Asphalt Plant and Depot to enhance its overall operation efficiency. The Selby site supplies high quality aggregates and asphalt across the Yorkshire region. Together with Bowker, its logistics partner at Selby, and Potter Space (owners of the business park where Selby is located), more than £200,000 has been invested into new rail freight infrastructure and facilities, ensuring the ongoing reliability of the service from this site and enabling the team to increase the number of trains that can run a week. Considerable improvements have been made to the track that travels off the main line and into the Selby depot. Following the investment, around 70 per cent of the track has been completely replaced, with other upgrades such as concrete sleepers made to improve the condition of the track further, and the installation of new loading bays. Additionally, Bowker have made significant investment in its stone discharge facilities at Selby; upgrading safety features to go beyond legislative requirements as well as making significant improvements to equipment and enhancing critical components increasing reliability. “The features, including new guards and fencing, are focussed on operator safety; and in general, the improvements will deliver reductions in down time during critical discharge periods. The significant investment demonstrates the commitment Bowker have made to the CEMEX partnership,” said Neil Bowker, Bowker’s Commercial Director. As a result of the developments made at the Selby site, the team have been able to increase the number of services run from this depot to three a week. This means an extra 90,000 tonnes of material can be moved by train, taking trucks off the road and maximising the use of rail as a sustainable mode of transport. All this helps support CEMEX’s climate objectives and minimises its impact on the environment. “We continue to invest heavily into our rail operations across the country, as this allows us to grow volumes and increase the services we offer. The works at Selby were the latest part of our development programme and it was fantastic to partner with Bowker and Potter Space on the many improvements that have been made – improvements that will enable us to better and more safely support our customers,” commented Dave Hart, CEMEX’s Supply Chain Director for UK and France. “Enhancing the sustainability of our business is a key priority and the use of rail forms an important part of this – as every rail freight service removes trucks from the road and achieves additional carbon savings. These investments help us to support CEMEX’s climate initiatives and be a more responsible company.” Jason Rockett, managing director of Potter Space, also added: “Potter Space has a proven track record of working together with customers, so we were pleased to work in partnership with both CEMEX and Bowker at our Potter Space Selby business park. All three parties recognise the value and benefit of rail transportation, so we were delighted to jointly invest in the new rail infrastructure to help meet the needs of CEMEX and support its long-term business plans.” These improvements come as part of a wider investment into Selby, with £0.5million planned for three new bitumen tanks and a reprocessed asphalt system. These will help to achieve further operating efficiencies and minimise waste while improving safety and customer service.
A construction site has a lot going on all at the same time. Some of the workers are busy mixing cement, some are working on the structure, some are operating the heavy machinery, and so on. Given how many tasks are simultaneously going on at a construction site, there are a lot of things that can go wrong in an instant. Hence arises the need for proper logistical planning at these sites. In construction, the term ‘logistical planning’ refers to the utilization of all the resources (materials, equipment, and manpower) in a planned way. This sort of planning is very essential to any type of construction work. To understand its importance, here’s a short discussion on how logistical planning can help things run a lot smoother at a construction site. Staying on schedule Construction work is very time-consuming. Even a small-scale project, like building a stretch of road, can take months. Larger projects, like the construction of buildings or bridges, can take years. Hence, time is very valuable in such construction projects. Even the slightest of delays can set you back by days or weeks. To make sure that your project is on schedule, you need a proper logistical plan and stick to it. Otherwise, you’re bound to run into delays and have to keep extending the project deadline. Your construction equipment needs to be at the site before the arrival of your workers. The arrangement should be such that the construction workers need not sit idle and wait for their equipment to arrive. Workers must also maintain a work schedule of their own that aligns with that of the project. They need to complete their daily workload before the end of the workday. The only exception for which delays should be considered is bad weather. Since nature’s force is out of your control, you can’t do much about it other than pushing back the project deadline. Selection and maintenance of construction equipment Different projects require different types of construction equipment. And while some of this equipment is common in almost every construction site, most of the equipment varies from project to project. Diesel generators, for instance, are used in almost every construction site. A diesel generator benefits the project in a lot of ways. They have a low maintenance cost, great fuel efficiency, and service, and can continuously supply the construction site with the necessary power for hours. Apart from the main diesel-powered generators, the site should also have a backup generator for emergencies. On the other hand, heavy machinery, like cranes, diggers, etc. is chosen based on the type of project. For example, you won’t usually need a steamroller for the construction of a building and a crane for fixing a road. Maintaining the equipment also falls under logistical planning. Since most projects are bound to take weeks or even months, you have to find a way to keep the equipment at the site. You also need to provide overnight security for the equipment and make sure that they’re operational when work resumes the following day. Cutting down on unnecessary expenses A study by McKinsey suggests that the construction industry can save almost $1.7 trillion annually by boosting productivity. That there’s a lack of planning in construction sites which eventually leads to unnecessary expenses. A lot of these expenses can be saved by ensuring proper logistical planning. This includes maintaining a strict work schedule, bringing in the right type of equipment, proper maintenance of the equipment, and so on. Sometimes, the expenses increase after the project is over, and that’s also due to poor logistical planning. This happens mostly because of using poor construction material and low-end tools. As a result, once the project is completed or nears completion, certain problems start popping up here and there. Besides, due to poor planning, workers might even make costly mistakes that need to be fixed before you can hand over the project. For instance, they might have mistakenly fitted an 8-inch pipe instead of a 12 inch one. Thus, when the problem is discovered, not only do they need to replace the pipe, but to do so they need to break the plaster and redo it. If the plans were properly followed and the workers were working efficiently, this scenario wouldn’t have existed.
The long-awaited £90m Congleton link road has opened to traffic. The occasion was marked by a colourful cavalcade of more than 50 classic cars driven by local enthusiasts along the 5.5km newly named Wolstenholme Elmy Way. The procession of vehicles, which included a ‘Batmobile’, high-performance sports cars and vehiclesdating from the early part of the last century, was preceded by a small Covid-secure ribbon-cutting ceremony by the team involved in delivering the road. The route had opened to the public to walk and cycle along at the weekend before Monday’s opening to vehicles. The road, which is the borough’s largest infrastructure project to date, is named after Congleton’s famous pioneering educationalist and campaigner for votes for women, Elizabeth Clarke Wolstenholme Elmy. The route will relieve the Cheshire East town of some of its historical traffic problems, create road space for cyclists and pedestrians and improve air quality for residents, while opening up new development opportunities for employment and housing. Despite the dual challenges of the Covid pandemic and harsh winter weather, the council’s contractor, Graham, worked hard to reduce the delays to the project, which was originally due to open late last year. The scheme has also been delivered within budget. Frank Jordan, Cheshire East Council’s executive director for place, said: “The opening of Wolstenholme Elmy Way is a real cause for celebration and a fine achievement – not only for the council, Graham and road users but, above all, the people of Congleton. “Traffic congestion has previously restricted town centre growth, reduced inward investment and also made it a challenge to retain existing businesses. “Cheshire East Council is delighted this complex and significant project has been successfully delivered – and within budget – despite the additional challenges of two extremely wet winters and the unprecedented impact of the Covid pandemic. Coronavirus affected the schemes’ suppliers and meant contractors had to take special measures to protect workers. “Given the size and complexity of the project – and the additional challenges of the past 15 months or so – the progress made from drawing board to build completion has been astonishing. Everyone involved in this scheme should feel tremendously proud.” The new highway joins the A534 Sandbach Road to the west and the A536 Macclesfield Road to the north, opening up connectivity and improving travel between Macclesfield, Congleton and the M6. It will release 20 hectares of new employment land with the potential to create 3,000 jobs by 2035. Mr Jordan added: “Congleton Town Council and the people of Congleton have been very supportive of this scheme and Cheshire East Council is delighted that everyone’s hard work has now come to final fruition.” Alastair Lewis, contracts manager for Graham, said: “This is a fantastic moment for the whole construction team, its partners and the local Congleton community. Despite the impact of the pandemic and some tough recent winter weather, we have been able to continue our works in a safe manner, while following government and public health guidelines, and have delivered the link road as close to the original schedule as possible – and within budget.” Cheshire East Council is contributing £24m towards the scheme with central government and developer contributions meeting the balance. Planning for the Congleton link road began back in 2012 with various routes considered by Cheshire East Council. After public consultation, a planning application was submitted in September 2015, before permission was granted the following July. The Department for Transport gave the final go-ahead for the council for their element of funding, enabling the council to acquire the land for the route in 2018, before Graham began construction in 2019. For more information visit: cheshireeast.gov.uk/congletonlinkroad or www.graham.co.uk/congleton-link-road
Associated British Ports (ABP) has appointed ByrneLooby as lead engineering consultant to provide the design phase of the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF). This project will provide significant re-engineering of the existing quayside in the outer harbour, creating a modern port that supports the renewable energy industry. ByrneLooby’s marine team will deliver state-of-the-art infrastructure that accommodates the next generation of offshore support vessels and provides facilities supporting O&M (Operations and Maintenance) and construction support activities, vital to the growing North Sea energy sector. When complete, the project will offer 360m of berthing space for simultaneous use by three SOVs and deliver up to eight acres of flexible storage and marshalling area. In addition, it will enable the development of around 5,000 sq ft of new office space with direct quayside access. Building on its long history of servicing offshore energy customers, the Port of Lowestoft is close to one of the most significant clusters of offshore wind farms in the UK. It provides a convenient marine hub for offshore wind customers to maintain operations, repower, and construct offshore wind sites. In 2019, Scottish Power Renewables opened an Operations and Maintenance building in Hamilton Dock to support the 714MW East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm. The port is also home to the O&M base for Scottish & Southern Energy’s (SSE) Greater Gabbard Offshore wind farm, located 23km from the Suffolk coast. Ian Dobson, Head of Marine UK at ByrneLooby, said: “We are delighted to be awarded the design of LEEF for Associated British Ports as part of the realisation of the port masterplan. “Our focus is on delivering this strategic project with sustainable and innovative solution-driven design that will realise the highest possible value for ABP. It will play a vital role in supporting ABP’s five-year-masterplan, re-invigorating the port, the locality and the region and providing its customers with a transformed next-generation port.” Project Video
The largest harbour crane in the UK arrived at Able Seaton Port on Thursday 20th February, marking a major step forward in Able UK’s expansion of its port facilities on both the Tees and the Humber. See featured images which shows the crane arriving at Able Seaton Port (home page image) and leaving Rostock Port, Germany (below) on board the 105-metres long vessel MV Merry. The multi-million Leibherr LHM600SHL mobile crane is being delivered from Rostock in Germany. It has been specially adapted to meet Able’s specialist requirements…it is able to lift 208 tonnes, has a 58 metres radius with its hook height increased from the standard 45 metres to 64 metres, together with an increased fulcrum height in order to reach over tall structures such as semi-submersible oil rigs. It will be used for wide range of activities associated with handling project cargo, particularly components for the offshore wind sector, as well as maintaining offshore oil and gas drilling rigs and other general port-related activities. It is expected that around 40 new jobs will be created as a result of this investment. The arrival of the crane follows on from a recent series of positive announcements for the company–—including the granting by the Government of a development Consent Order for its 900-acre Able Marine Energy Park project on the South Bank of the Humber It was also announced recently that Able has been awarded a contract for the disposal of four offshore structures from the Shell operated Brent Field in the North Sea. The contract will see three platform topsides, as well as a 138m high steel platform jacket, transported from the Brent field over 100 miles north east of Scotland to Able Seaton Port. Says Able UK Managing Director Andrew Jacques “The acquisition of this specialist crane underlines our future proofing to ensure that we continue to provide the best possible service to meet the needs of our customers…it will certainly help to attract more business to Seaton Port and the Tees. providing more opportunities for local businesses and further complimenting the construction of new quays at Seaton Port—one of which will be used for loading of single-piece offshore structures of up to 48,000 tonnes.”
HS2 today began the search for a specialist contractor to build the high speed rail project’s central control centre and maintenance depot, which will create around 500 long-term jobs in Birmingham’s Washwood Heath. The contract – worth an estimated £275m – will see the winning bidder work with HS2 Ltd to transform the 30 hectare brown field site into the nerve centre of the HS2 network. From this point, next to the main line into Birmingham Curzon Street, HS2’s fleet of state-of-the-art high-speed trains will be serviced and maintained, 24 hours a day, seven days a week – ready to provide an unparalleled level of frequency and reliability for passengers across the UK. The depot will include a 40,000 m2 Rolling Stock Maintenance Building, Carriage Wash, Automatic Vehicle Inspection Building and 14 sidings where trains can be stored overnight. Also on the same site will be the Network Integrated Control Centre, the centre of the network’s state-of-the-art signalling and control systems as well as office buildings for cleaners and drivers. HS2 Ltd’s Commercial Director, David Poole said: “The start of the search for a contractor to build Washwood Heath is a real milestone for the HS2 project and a huge long-term opportunity for the area. With main works civils construction now well underway, we are putting the specialist team in place to support operation of the new railway. “Washwood Heath will be at the heart of the operation – and around 500 high skilled jobs based at the depot will be a major boost for the community.” The Washwood Heath site was formerly home to the disused Metro-Cammell railway works which closed in 2004. A team from HS2’s early works contractor LM, completed the demolition of the buildings on the site last year, ready for the start of construction. Once operational, Phase One and 2a will have a fleet of at least 54 trains which will be based at Washwood Heath. These 200m long units can be doubled up to create 400m long trains and will serve destinations beyond the HS2 network – like Liverpool, Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow – via a connection to the existing West Coast Main Line at Crewe. Bidders are expected to be shortlisted for the single-stage design and build contract in the summer with contract award in 2023.
As one of Europe’s largest business hubs, London is a great place to do business. With the right strategy, you can be sure to grow your brand name from oblivion to an internationally acclaimed brand. One of the challenges that most businesses face as they enter the expansion phase is storage space for manufactured goods and scale up your day to day operations. Ordinarily, you’ll require a warehouse. But what if you don’t own a warehouse just yet? Well, this should not be a stumbling broke to the rapid growth of your business. You can take advantage of a warehouse for rent as a perfect temporary storage location without blowing up your budget. Warehouse rental is a strategic move that will enable you to expand gradually while maintaining a healthy bottom line as you don’t have to handle extra costs. Whether you need warehouse space for a day, week, month or an entire year, there are many benefits you can enjoy renting warehouse space. Warehouse rental allows you to not only connect with your customers better but also monitor important trends while allowing them to reach you directly. This means better relationships with your customers as they have a front line opportunity to see your brand in action. Renting warehouse space also allows you to test new markets that you hope to expand into without risking resources. You can tell if the market is receptive as these rentals let you monitor specific areas as well as a range of products without having long term commitment. Should you realize that expanding into a specific market is not a good move then you can consider a different location. Warehouse also helps to confront the financial risk involved in establishing a presence in a new location. You can lease warehouse space on a budget for a month so you set up operations without hurting your budget. How to Find Warehouse for Rent Here are some tips to help you if are looking for warehouse space for rent: · Define your needs Before you begin your search for warehouse space for rent, you must have a concise and clear idea of how you will use the space. This is important because it will help you to get just enough space. When you don’t have your needs defined, you might either end up with too little or too much space. · Think about the warehouse Layout Warehouses have different facilities for different kinds of needs. Therefore, as you look for warehouse space have your preferred layout that will fulfil your business needs. You can request a floor plan or a virtual tour of the warehouse interior so that you have an idea of how best you can use the space. · Location, Location, Location When you are looking for warehouse space keep location in mind. Do you prefer to rent warehouse space closer to your other business locations or closer to your home? What about proximity to the transport network? How easy will it be to move goods to and from the warehouse? Is the area easily accessible? You also need to establish if there are specific warehouses for specific industries. You don’t want to find your food warehouse is in the middle of industrial products as this can be a turn off for your customers. Being in the right zone helps to build the confidence of your customers that you are indeed committed to the industry standards. · Property Features Equally important are the features that can be found in the warehouse for rent. Think about the number of customers and employees that will be coming to the warehouse. Does the warehouse have adequate parking space for vans, social amenities, security and other important features? · Know the terms of the lease When looking for warehouse space to rent, you need to determine the terms. This includes the duration of the lease. If you foresee a situation when your business may undergo rapid expansion then you need a short term lease. On the contrary, if you see your business remaining the same for a foreseeable future then you could opt for a longer-term lease. Additionally, you also must pay attention to other terms of the agreement before signing. Make sure you ask questions if you need to clarify anything Warehouse for rent presents a perfect opportunity to experiment with different markets before you launch. The rental experience will help you to tell the most receptive markets before expansion. These short term rentals help you to access crucial information without having to opt for a long-term commitment. Moreover, it makes it possible for you to make a huge impact for a short period on a budget.
Civil engineering specialist contractor GRAHAM has completed a £15m redevelopment of the Victoria Terminal 2 (VT2) ferry terminal ramp which services the Belfast to Birkenhead route. The existing berth has been upgraded to handle the next generation of modern Roll-On / Roll-Off (RoRo) ferry vessels, Stena Line’s new E-Flexer series ships. The project involved the installation of a new double deck linkspan that allows vehicles to be loaded or discharged simultaneously over two decks of the ferry. This investment will allow Stena Line to increase capacity, reduce turnaround times, improve customers’ experience and enhance connectivity to one of Northern Ireland’s key markets. As part of the works, GRAHAM’s project team also constructed new berthing infrastructure including dolphins, walkways and automatic mooring system, and a new approach ramp to the linkspan upper deck. To increase the efficiency of piling operations during the scheme, the project team designed and fabricated a hydraulic piling gate that was utilised on a floating crane barge on site, reducing the time taken to complete the piling works. Throughout the works materials were procured through the local supply chain and GRAHAM also recruited a new engineering apprentice to work on the scheme. The project forms part of Belfast Harbour’s long-term investment strategy in Port infrastructure and futureproofs Belfast’s ferry facilities. The new E-Flexer ships, which entered service earlier this year, will enhance freight capacity by 40%. At 215m long, the new ships will have a freight capacity of 3,100 lane metres and space to carry 120 cars and 1,000 passengers and crew. They will also utilise the most modern marine technology available and be the most sustainable vessels operating in the Irish Sea. Thomas Craven, Contracts Manager for GRAHAM, said: “We’re delighted to have been part of this important infrastructure project for Northern Ireland, which will unlock further potential for freight capacity between Belfast and Liverpool. “Our team called upon its vast expertise in port and marine engineering to deliver this first class terminal and associated infrastructure. The facilities will provide major benefits to Northern Ireland’s importers and exporters, improving the customer experience as well as enhancing capacity on the route.” The VT2 project follows GRAHAM’s recent work at the Port of Tilbury, where the firm delivered the UK’s newest and largest unaccompanied freight Roll on/Roll off (Ro-Ro) terminal. Trevor Anderson, Belfast Harbour said: “The upgrade of the Victoria Terminal 2 ferry terminal represents another significant investment by Belfast Harbour in Northern Ireland’s transport infrastructure and will provide world class facilities for Northern Ireland’s importers and exporters. “The project is an important step in our ambition to become the World’s Best Regional Port. By supporting the introduction of larger vessels the investment also futureproofs Belfast Harbour’s ferry facilities and strengthens our long-term partnership with Stena Line.” Last year the contractor also completed the first phase of a multi-million-pound upgrade to the Port of Southampton’s Ocean Cruise Terminal and is currently delivering a £10m repair project at Swansea West Pier and a new wharf and land upgrades as part of a £40m redevelopment to the Port of Dundee.
