JLL’s H1 2018 UK Big Box Industrial & Logistics research has been published, revealing that over 12 million square feet of logistics properties were let in the first half of 2018. Logistics companies were the most active source of take-up in H1 2018, at 38% of the total whilst the
Developers working on the redevelopment of Lakeshore in South Bristol have reached a major milestone at the new £20m Copper Building today – a 170m long structure which will soon flank the Northern boundary of the former Imperial Tobacco site. Joint venture partners, and developers of the building Urban Splash
Power has been installed at the 700 acre site at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway, supporting up to six million sq ft high specification logistics space and enabling occupiers to begin installing technology as part of their internal fit-outs. Moreover, construction of the 195,500 sq ft facility for global
Goodman has pre let the Hamburg III Logistics Centre at Moorburger Bogen in the Port of Hamburg to two big-name customers – logistics service provider B+S, who will be taking over 12,000 sqm of the new facility on the southern Elbe on 1 August 2018 and Kühne + Nagel, who will occupy 23,000
The pressure to meet an ever-increasing demand for school places is one that has been felt by local authorities across the UK for a number of years, with the requirement for places across primary, secondary and special education on the rise. The London Borough of Hounslow is one local authority
Nottingham City Council has been asked to award a contract for the construction of the Broadmarsh Car Park and Bus Station scheme part of the £250 million regeneration of Nottingham city centre. Member sof the Council’s executive board will be asked at a meeting next week to approve the project
A new £160 million retail designer outlet will be brought to Cannock in West Midlands by Bowmer & Kirkland (B&K). McArthurGlen has confirmed site preparation and earth works will begin this month to create a landmark 285,000 sq ft retail destination and community hub for the area. The development of
Three school projects worth over £33 million in Denbighshire have been given the green light and construction work is underway. A new £5 million school building is being developed for Ysgol Carreg Emlyn, Clocaenog, as well as a new £5.3 million building for Ysgol Llanfair. Elsewhere. In addition, a new
Work is underway on 82 units of affordable housing, part of a £10 million development in Chiltern Close, Llanishen, Cardiff, funded by Wales & West Housing and delivered by JG Hale Construction. Scheduled to be completed in autumn 2019, the scheme is unusual in that all five blocks involve large
Aberdeen Standard Investment’s AIPUT fund (Airport Industrial and Property Unit Trust) has commissioned a new report that highlights the scale of progress and future potential for the adoption of automated transport and logistics technology at the UK’s airports, including London’s Heathrow, where AIPUT holds 2 million sq ft of buildings
JLL’s H1 2018 UK Big Box Industrial & Logistics research has been published, revealing that over 12 million square feet of logistics properties were let in the first half of 2018. Logistics companies were the most active source of take-up in H1 2018, at 38% of the total whilst the growth of online retail has continued to generate new demand for warehousing with retailers accounting for 34% of demand. Moreover, Grade A availability increased over the first six months of 2018 to 20.2 million sq ft, following a pick-up in both new and good quality second hand supply. Nationally, the vacancy rate rose from 6% at the end of 2017 to 7% at mid-2018. Distribution rents are also forecast to grow by 3.4% this year throughout the UK. “Take up in the occupational market was exceptionally strong in the first six months of this year, indeed it was one of the strongest half yearly levels on record and 27% higher than the five-year half yearly average, H2 2013 – H1 2018 (9.7 million sq ft). The sharp rise is partly attributable to a number of large transactions, that had initially been expected to complete last year, rolling over into 2018. Of the 12.3 million sq ft taken up in H1 2018, around 9 million sq ft comprised new units, with the remaining 3.2 million sq ft consisting of good quality second hand space,” said Richard Evans, director Industrial & Logistics. Regionally, the research revealed that the East Midlands accounted for the largest share of take-up of new floorspace in H1 2018 at 45% of the total. This was followed by the Greater South East (South East, East and London) which took a 16% share and the West Midlands, which accounted for 15% of total demand. “Despite the likelihood of slow economic growth this year and continued uncertainty over Brexit, we remain positive about the logistics market in 2018. With over 4 million sq ft of logistics space currently either under offer or expected to complete in the short-term we expect a robust level of take-up this year, potentially around the 20 million sq ft mark which would be above the five-year annual average,” said Jon Sleeman, director Industrial & Logistics research. “With more speculative development taking place nationally we also expect to see a change in the take-up of new space with speculative product eating into the dominant built to suit (BTS) share. Based on our monitoring of the supply pipeline, we expect speculative development to continue to rise, including larger units,” Jon concluded.
Developers working on the redevelopment of Lakeshore in South Bristol have reached a major milestone at the new £20m Copper Building today – a 170m long structure which will soon flank the Northern boundary of the former Imperial Tobacco site. Joint venture partners, and developers of the building Urban Splash and Places for People, alongside architect Nick Brown of Ferguson Mann, gathered on the roof of the new structure to mark the “topping out” construction milestone, which sees the 7-storey building now at its highest point. Copper Building will offer 136 new apartments for local people, many of which will be launched for sale next month. Guy Ackernley is director of residential sales at Urban Splash – the company who restored the original Grade II Listed Cor-Ten building at the site, before turning its attentions to the land where the factory once stood. Speaking at today’s event he said: “It’s been quite the milestone reaching the building’s highest point and being able to enjoy some stunning views of the 10 acres of gardens and a panoramic aspect of the surrounding area too.” Added Mary Parsons, Places for People: “Our working partnership with Urban Splash continues to flourish and I am delighted that we’ve marked another achievement today as we strive to bring more beautifully designed new homes to South Bristol.” Designed by Ferguson Mann, the architecture practice founded by former Bristol Mayor George Ferguson, the new building draws its inspiration from the nearby orchards whilst also reflecting the designs of the original Skidmore, Owings and Merrill Cor-Ten building. Nick Brown from the practice explained: “Clad in copper, the building’s warm exterior complements its adjacent Cor-ten steel cousin – the original ‘70s building – across the way. We’ve revived the original connection of the two buildings with a new entranceway that opens up a view down to the original structure, echoing that now lost connection between the factory and office. Ultimately, by designing a new building which very much has a relationship with the existing one, we’ve certainly enhanced this already awesome community.” Elaborating on the autumn sales event – which will take place on Saturday 29th September – Guy concluded: “The homes here are going to be very special with the entire South façade featuring fully glazed balconies overlooking the original building, lake and vast outdoor space. They really are set to be stunning properties. We cannot wait to bring these much anticipated homes to market in September, before welcoming our residents next year.” Residents moving into the building next year will benefit from 10 acres of gardens as well as being in close proximity to the centre of Bristol. Anyone wishing to register their interest ahead of the sales launch should email live@urbansplash.co.uk or visit https://www.urbansplash.co.uk/blog/designing-lakeshores-copper-building for more information.
Power has been installed at the 700 acre site at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway, supporting up to six million sq ft high specification logistics space and enabling occupiers to begin installing technology as part of their internal fit-outs. Moreover, construction of the 195,500 sq ft facility for global transport and logistics company Kuehne + Nagel begins. The senior executives from the company recently joined SEGRO on-site to mark groundbreaking at their 17 acre development, which will serve as the UK locations for its Overland operations. The new facility is expected to complete in April 2019 and will support up to 320 jobs. “This new facility will be integral to our UK overland operations, and we are very pleased to see construction commence on site. Our aspiration is to create a best in class logistics facility, and we believe we have the right partner in SEGRO to do that,” said Jim Hedderwick, Kuehne + Nagel director of overland for the UK. SEGRO keeps advancing a number of infrastructure works at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway, such as improvement work to the M1 at Junction 24 and 24A, a bypass linking the site to Kegworth, which includes a 1,200 tonnes bridge over the M1, and the delivery of a 50 acre rail freight link. “We have considerable momentum at East Midlands Gateway, where we are creating a state of the art, multi-modal logistics hub. Our strategy at SLPEMG is to deliver the off-site and on-site infrastructure in parallel, whilst also delivering the units for occupiers meaning the new facilities can be operational more quickly,” said Andrew Pilsworth from SEGRO. “The connection of power is a significant milestone as it allows Kuehne + Nagel, and other companies that have committed to the site, to begin their high-tech internal fit-outs. Construction will continue apace over the second half of 2018,” Andrew concluded. As well as providing critical infrastructure for the logistics supply chain, SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway will create 7,250 jobs, 900 construction jobs and 3,000 indirect jobs.
Goodman has pre let the Hamburg III Logistics Centre at Moorburger Bogen in the Port of Hamburg to two big-name customers – logistics service provider B+S, who will be taking over 12,000 sqm of the new facility on the southern Elbe on 1 August 2018 and Kühne + Nagel, who will occupy 23,000 sqm. The new logistics centre is already the group’s fourth major project in the region. The Hamburg III Logistics Centre has a total area of 35,000 sqm, highlighting Goodman’s strategy of developing flexible properties that suit the needs of clients in every industry. The project, as most of spaces developed by Goodman in Germany, is a brownfield conversion and its quality is emphasised by lofty hall heights of up to 12m and the light strips in the mezzanine areas. “Given that all customers are pursuing different objectives with their logistics properties, the best results are achieved if the buildings can be easily adapted to meet the individual needs of each customer. Businesses are asking for logistics facilities at short notice. We are actively responding by developing properties on a speculative basis, utilising our lengthy experience in building large-scale logistics complexes. That is why big-name businesses rely on our expertise,” said Christof Prange, Goodman Germany’s Head of Business Development. The location of the Logistics Centre, Moorburger Bogen, is a key logistics hub with excellent links with the A7 and A1 motorways and easy access to the Altenwerder, Burchardkai and Eurokai container terminals, around eight kilometres away. The 12,000 sqm logistics space will largely be used for contract logistics and e-commerce fulfilment by B+S, which has expanded its logistics space in Hamburg to 33,000 sqm. For its part, Kühne + Nagel is using the space for warehousing and distributing its customers’ goods. Kühne + Nagel is already renting 14 properties from the Goodman portfolio, 12 of which are in Europe, including two in Hamburg.
The pressure to meet an ever-increasing demand for school places is one that has been felt by local authorities across the UK for a number of years, with the requirement for places across primary, secondary and special education on the rise. The London Borough of Hounslow is one local authority that has proactively approached the challenge and worked with its partners to devise and deliver a solution. David Nisbet, partner at Pick Everard looks at the approach and its results so far. In 2012, Hounslow Council commissioned leading property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard to deliver multiple new primary, secondary and special education needs school places over a five-year period within challenging cost parameters. The requirement for new school places in Hounslow is extensive and as such, a dedicated multidisciplinary team has been allocated to develop the new and improved facilities. The £300 million Capital Expansion Programme once completed will have delivered 3,000 new primary places, a further 5,000 in secondary education and 600 new SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) places. The story so far Since the Capital Expansion Programme was established, more than 6,000 school places have been created by the local authority: 2,840 primary school 2,820 secondary school 440 SEN Working in partnership, Pick Everard has contributed significantly to this successful outcome, with new buildings and extensions at 24 primary, infant and junior schools, and some selected secondary schools. Alongside this, the firm has also undertaken a programme of dedicated refurbishment and new build projects to expand nine of the borough’s existing SEND sites culminating in substantial new build, all through specialist schools. Facing unique challenges Unlike many traditional school expansion and improvement schemes, Hounslow presented the team with a series of unique challenges as a result of the borough’s location under the flight path for Heathrow Airport. At its busiest, one plane lands or takes off here approximately every minute – meaning potential disruption to the teaching and learning environments sitting below. Working in collaboration with our acoustic sub-consultants to undertake detailed surveys at each school to determine exactly what impact the aircraft noise has on each site and what measures must be employed to mitigate this to provide a high-quality learning environment. Findings from these early site investigations allowed us to develop an affordable yet flexible design concept, incorporating a highly insulated concrete structural envelope combined with a sophisticated ventilation strategy, balancing noise insulation with thermal comfort. This bespoke acoustic design was adapted and applied to the new buildings as well as pre-existing schools throughout the programme, demonstrating value for money while delivering top quality facilities for staff and pupils. The completed projects have all been designed to withstand the effects of the evolving environment and any impact it might bring on the schools such as the Heathrow Airport expansion. An innovative approach An important part of ensuring best value and devising the most appropriate solutions was delivering an innovative approach throughout. As well as assessing the most suitable route for each project – an extension or refurbishment, or a full new build – for each individual school requirement, we also worked to deliver savings through modern methods of construction. We also implemented BIM throughout the programme to achieve an integrated approach, advancing designs and increasing stakeholder engagement during the design. For example: BIM training through free workshops to help the client understand and use the data efficiently Producing 3D walkthroughs and visuals to share with key stakeholders Community benefits Engaging with and providing opportunities for the communities in which we work is priority for the team at Pick Everard and this programme is no different. As well as addressing the need for additional school places across Hounslow, the programme has also delivered a number of benefits for the local community. Some 30 per cent of the workforce involved in this series of projects lived within 40 miles of the site and the entire supply chain spend was delivered through SMEs – ensuring a positive economic impact locally. It is hoped that sports facilities included within school projects across the borough will be available for wider community use outside of school hours in addition to pupils and teachers during term time – creating an important legacy for local people and benefitting not only school children but their families and neighbours. Value engineering Building in value was vital for the London Borough of Hounslow, which needed to keep to strict budgets and timescales throughout the programme – and this needed to be balanced with the requirement to deliver high quality new teaching and learning spaces. As well as looking at ways to save money on the actual build costs – through developing a standardised palette of materials and considering various modern methods of construction – Pick Everard worked with the client to provide construction solutions that will deliver value through greater longevity and reduced maintenance during the whole building life. New build or extension? This was most clearly demonstrated when initial plans proposed an extension to Hounslow Town Primary School but, upon examining the project in further detail, it was identified that a new build scheme on an adjacent site would actually offer better value and provide a long-term solution to pupil provision for the local authority. Not only did this mean that the school could be delivered with less disruption, but it also acted as a catalyst for further projects, including a brand new music centre for the community to use. What next? Pick Everard is working with the London Borough of Hounslow into 2020, completing an estimated £120m of school projects across the borough. It is expected that this second phase will be completed in September 2020. The firm boasts significant experience in the education sector, especially within London having worked on hundreds of schools within the M25 boundary in recent years. For example, the firm completed ten primary school expansions and five master plans for projects within the London Borough of Richmond. Our expertise has allowed us to work in collaboration
Nottingham City Council has been asked to award a contract for the construction of the Broadmarsh Car Park and Bus Station scheme part of the £250 million regeneration of Nottingham city centre. Member sof the Council’s executive board will be asked at a meeting next week to approve the project and award a contract for construction. “This is an important milestone in the project that will enable this exciting development to be delivered,” said Council leader John Collins. “The positive impact of investment to date, such as the transport hub at the station, the latest tram extension and the transformation of Station Street, can already be seen in the form of renewed interest in the area and other, private developments coming forward.” The Broadmarsh Car Park and Bus Station scheme will also feature retail units and is part of the wider Broadmarsh programme that will deliver significant regeneration on the southern side of the city centre and complement intu’s redevelopment of the shopping centre. “Work began recently on the new Nottingham College and the castle refurbishment is now under way,” said Cllr Collins. “Moving ahead with the new car park and bus station development is the next piece of the jigsaw and can only further promote this regeneration momentum, bringing undoubted economic benefits to the city centre, and providing a high quality addition to the streetscape between the station and the city centre.” The Car Park development replaces the previous 1960s building, which was demolished earlier this year, offering a 1,341-spaces car park, a modern bus station and retail units in Carrington Street, Collin Street and along the concourse area fronting onto the bus station. The £250 million investment includes developments in the wider Broadmarsh area, such as the car park, bus station, shopping centre, college and castle. These developments are expected to create 3,000 jobs, £10 billion GVA uplift over ten years and attract around three million new visitor every year. The car park development alone is forecast to create more than 100 jobs and generate almost £3 million a year for the Nottingham economy.
A new £160 million retail designer outlet will be brought to Cannock in West Midlands by Bowmer & Kirkland (B&K). McArthurGlen has confirmed site preparation and earth works will begin this month to create a landmark 285,000 sq ft retail destination and community hub for the area. The development of Cannock Designer Outlet has been on the table since December 2017 when McArthurGlen announced a joint venture with Aviva Investors, The Richardson Family and U+I. The first phase of the scheme will feature 80 premium and luxury brands, along with a selection of restaurants and cafes, a children’s play area, bike parking for cyclists and 1,400 car parking spaced. The outlet is expected to be completed by 2020. “We are thrilled to start construction on this milestone development for Cannock. The new centre will generate significant employment for the local area and create a new retail destination for the region, serving 11 million local residents. Cannock Designer Outlet will be built to the highest standards of architectural design and sustainability, reflecting and respecting the the surrounding natural landscape,” said Gary Bond, Joint Managing Director of Development at McArthurGlen. In addition, as part of the investment is also the enhancement and ongoing maintenance of the Mill Green Natural Park, improvements to Cannock Town Centre and the railway station, and support for developing skills and employment prospects for local people. “The reality of creating one of the most significant things to happen in the district in recent memory is definitely here now, with this exciting news. As construction commences we will be working closely with McArthurGlen to ensure that disruption is kept to the minimum for our residents, as we progress to a development we can all be very proud about,” commented Council Leader George Adamson.
Three school projects worth over £33 million in Denbighshire have been given the green light and construction work is underway. A new £5 million school building is being developed for Ysgol Carreg Emlyn, Clocaenog, as well as a new £5.3 million building for Ysgol Llanfair. Elsewhere. In addition, a new £23 million 3-16 Catholic school is being built in Rhyl. These are the last three projects to be delivered as part of the first phase of a £90 million investment in Denbighshire’s schools under the 21st Century Schools programme. The contractors working on the projects are Willmott Dixon, Read Construction, Wynne Construction and Kier construction. The first phase of the programme included a new £24 million replacement school of 1,200 places for Rhyl High School and Ysgol Tir Morfa, a £16.5 million extension and refurbishment for Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph and a new £10.5 million joint site for Rhos Street School and Ysgol Pen Barras in Ruthin. “This investment has radically altered the learning environment for thousands of pupils. They are no longer being taught in outdated classrooms, they are now in state-of-the-art, bright and fit for purpose areas. The evidence is already showing this has changed pupils’ approach to learning and helping them achieve even more at school,” said Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts. Also included in the project was a £3.5 million seven-classroom extension and refurbishment with new reception area and hall at Bodnant Community School, Prestatyn, as well as a £1.4 million three-classroom extension and refurbishment at Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy, Cynwyd. “Making sure young people have the right skills is a key priority under our Corporate Plan and we will continue to invest in the county’s schools as we look towards the next phase of the 21st Century Schools programme with the Welsh Government,” added the Councillor. The second phase of the 21st Century Schools programme is due to start in April 2019.
Work is underway on 82 units of affordable housing, part of a £10 million development in Chiltern Close, Llanishen, Cardiff, funded by Wales & West Housing and delivered by JG Hale Construction. Scheduled to be completed in autumn 2019, the scheme is unusual in that all five blocks involve large sections of the homes, such as windows, floors and roof cassettes, all being manufactured offsite. By using this technique homes can be built in a much more cost effective way, often with a healthier carbon footprint than developments that employ traditional building methods. Moreover, the homes will use a revolutionary insulation product called TrisoWarm Hybrid Insulated Panel, whereby the whole panel is insulated within a factory environment. Developed by Hale, the product, which received approval from the BBA (British Board of Agrément) last year, has the potential to substantially reduce heating bills and construction periods. “The biggest problem in the UK is the weather. If it’s pouring down with rain, we cannot complete externals etc. However, by using the TrisoWarm system along with offsite manufacturing, we can design and complete a house very quickly. Another factor influencing our decision on using TrisoWarm is that within the British Construction Industry there is currently a lack of bricklayers so off-site manufacturing alleviates this problem,” explained Jonathan Hale, chairman of JG Hale Group. Other benefits of the project include the employment of three or four apprentices. Hale will also deliver a number of community initiatives during the project. “This is an important development for Wales & West Housing as it supports the much-needed demand in Cardiff for high-quality affordable housing for over 55s. We are looking forward to working with JG Hale to develop this scheme and seeing the benefits the ‘TrisoWarm’ system will bring to improve the overall build quality and keep heating bills down for our residents,” said Grant Prosser, Wales & West Housing Development manager. The Chiltern Close scheme has been funded by Wales & West Housing in partnership with the Welsh Government and City of Cardiff Council.
Aberdeen Standard Investment’s AIPUT fund (Airport Industrial and Property Unit Trust) has commissioned a new report that highlights the scale of progress and future potential for the adoption of automated transport and logistics technology at the UK’s airports, including London’s Heathrow, where AIPUT holds 2 million sq ft of buildings dedicated to supporting the airport’s freight and logistics service providers. The report has been jointly produced by specialist UK aviation real estate consultancy ChappellKing and Dornier Consulting International GmbH and it explores the potential efficiency gains from automation across a plethora of airport-related functions, such as cargo-handling and logistics operations, as well as passenger transportation to and within airports. “Autonomous technology promises enormous benefits to airports and the service companies that support them, transforming the way airports work and improving efficiency and safety, both for passengers and other airport users,” said Nick Smith, AIPUT Fund Manager. “At Gatwick, for example, 90% of the airport’s airside vehicles are stationary at any one time, which is both hugely inefficient and demands a vast amount of space. A much smaller pool of electric-powered autonomous vehicles would drastically cut costs, free up land, reduce emissions, and improve safety. In Düsseldorf, a newly-developed robotic car parking system has demonstrated a 60% reduction in required parking space compared to human drivers.” A number of UK airports have already welcomed trials of a variety of autonomous technological applications. Heathrow was the first to complete a number of trials of automated air-side vehicles, in collaboration with IAG Cargo and Oxbotica. Meanwhile, Gatwick became the first airport in the world to trials the use of autonomous vehicles to shuttle staff across the airfield, demonstrating that autonomous vehicles can operate safely in highly-complex airfield environments. “Airports and airport real estate providers need to be ready for the introduction of automated technology as soon as operational and safety regulations permit. AIPUT intends to stay ahead of the curve by embracing automation, working with our tenants and partners to build autonomous technology into our site masterplans; which we believe will adapt and future-proof our UK estate assets, ensuring that our clients’ buildings and facilities will be able to accommodate and benefit fully from the rapid development of autonomous technology,” added Nick. The UK Government has recently announced its support toward the industry by offering a £22.4 million funding under the Industrial Strategy for off-road self-driving, which is believed to revolutionise productivity in a range of sectors, including mining, ports and airports. AIPUT will be ensuring that it is at the forefront of planning for and providing the cutting edge facilities that greater automation will require.
