This new-build regional distribution centre, with a total floor area of around 760,000 ft2 included ambient, chilled, frozen and bread warehouses along with a goods-in building, resource recovery unit and vehicle maintenance unit. The project also included a fuel filling station, vehicle wash, two gatehouses and a driver’s check-in building.
Photo voltaic systems were installed on both the goods-in and frozen warehouse roofs enabling Morrison’s to export electricity to the grid.
A series of early access dates were agreed with the client to enable them to commence stocking and operating the facility prior to the contracted to practical completion date.
The site is bounded by the M5 motorway, West Coast mainline railway and has high voltage overhead electric cables crossing the site including a pylon between the frozen and ambient warehouses. This meant that working methods were required to be agreed with Network Rail, Western Power and National Grid prior to the start of work. The site’s drainage design and implementation also had to be agreed with the Inland Drainage Board who made daily site inspections to monitor the works and that the strict water management procedures being followed.
Great crested newts were also present and the management of these was carried out in conjunction with English Nature.
The project achieved a BREEAM excellent rating.
