HANDOVERS FOR BIG BRAND OPERATIONS
JAGUAR LAND ROVER COMMENCES OPERATIONS IN OVER 3 MILLION SQ FT FACILITIES
March 2021 saw Winvic appointed by IM Properties to construct the UK’s largest ever single occupier logistics park in Leicestershire and the prestigious vehicle manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), would become the end user of 2.94 million sq ft of industrial space.
Two units at Mercia Park are 1,000,000 sq ft, two are 300,000 sq ft and one 200,000 sq ft and all five buildings contain office facilities totalling 107,000 sq ft. This significant vertical build project was scheduled for completion in September 2022 but in April 2022 we were appointed by Jaguar Land Rover to fit-out the two largest distribution units. We were therefore delivering the ongoing vertical build, shared site infrastructure areas, S278 access works and fit out simultaneously and fit out works required sectional handovers; the meticulous programme was developed by our team and it was crucial for us remain on schedule. The first handover was successfully achieved at the end of October 2022, as were subsequent ones, which permitted JLR’s initial operations to commence as planned in January 2023 and full operations in July. The BREEAM Excellent warehouse shells were transformed into a EPC A-rated facilities as part of the new global parts logistics centre. We installed mezzanine floors to create the base for the three-storey ‘pick tower’, which serves approximately six miles of aisles where the car giant stores in excess of million small vehicle parts.
kilometres of 18-metre-high racking installed
The fit out works also consisted of the installation of 35 kilometres of 18-metre-high racking across the two units, a state-of-the-art combined sprinkler system and combined mechanical and electrical services. Alterations and reconfiguration the 6,000 sq m of existing office spaces were also undertaken, including refitting out the ground first floor offices to form new professional kitchen and restaurant facilities for people working in both units. We also constructed numerous individual office and welfare facilities across the two warehouse floors and installed a total of 20 additional dock and level access doors. IM Properties engaged us again in October 2022 to design and build an adjacent speculative facility – Plot 7 – as the final unit at Mercia Park. This unit comprises 47,000 sq ft of industrial space, 4,000 sq ft of two-storey office accommodation and 180 car parking spaces.
You can read more about the project’s significant social value strategy on page 17
AMAZON OPERATIONS ACROSS GROUND AND THREE STOREYS AT PEDDIMORE
You read all about the Civils and Infrastructure works that Winvic undertook at Peddimore for IM Properties on page 13 and the fantastic long-term benefits that we’ve delivered to the local community on page 17; here we talk about the 2.2 million sq ft industrial warehouse that we built on the site, which Amazon has now occupied.
The unit’s footprint is 547,000 sq ft, but it’s 22 metres tall and inside we have constructed a steel internal mezzanine floor structure to create three storeys. The significant loads have required us to install approximately 6,000 pre-cast concrete piles as well as steel tube piles at bracing positions. The piling programme was just eight weeks in length, and we completed the 15,500-tonne steel frame erection and pouring of the concrete floor by week 25 out of 76. The main office and comfort accommodation, totalling around 50,000 sq ft, is on the ground floor and as well as offices, breakout and conference spaces there is a professional kitchen, canteen and approximately 200 toilets. Located in three corners of the building, across each of the four floors, are further breakout and kitchenette facilities, a trucker’s reception, lounge and kitchen and hundreds of more WCs. The development plateau was created and services were installed by Winvic as part of the Civils and Infrastructure contract but we were required to install gravity drainage with the vertical build works. Externally we constructed 650,000 sq ft of yard, car parking for 880 and 120 HGV spaces, installed 15 kilometres of fencing and planted thousands of trees and shrubs.
Tonne steel frame erected
Winvic reached practical completion on the three-storey industrial facility in September 2023. A total of seven early access dates were met, which allowed the end user’s direct logistics robotics contractors to commence their specialist fit out works.
On page 17 you can also find out about the positive impact we created for the local community.
Andy Reynolds, Project Director, IM Properties
“We’ve worked in partnership with Winvic Construction on some of our most complex schemes, where we’re often pushing the boundaries and every time they’ve stepped up to the challenge. They invest in their business and people to ensure they can deliver on our drive for best-in-class where innovation, sustainability and social value are at the forefront. The scale of what has been achieved at Peddimore is huge and the personal pride everyone has taken in delivering the scheme has ensured a level of attention to detail we can all rightfully feel proud of.”
WORKING FOR NEW CLIENT JAYNIC
Delivering a distribution unit for The Range
We commenced work on the 1.2 million sq ft Gateway 14, Stowmarket project in December 2022 and handed over the distribution warehouse to client Jaynic and end user The Range for fit out in November 2023. A total of 3,730 tonnes of steel was used in creating the frame, which was erected extremely quickly for its size in just 9 weeks with up to five mobile cranes in operation at a time – you can read more in New Steel Construction magazine. In addition to the warehouse space there is a 21,300 sq ft three storey main office, two 5,100 sq ft two storey transport offices and a 8,800 sq m recycling refuse unit. We installed all the associated drainage, services, on-site road infrastructure and landscaping. The scheme has been delivered as low carbon in construction in line with the UKGBC Framework and achieved a BREEAM rating of Excellent. Sustainability features include EV charging points, LED lighting, solar PV, smart energy systems and rainwater harvesting.
Nic Rumsey, Managing Director, Jaynic
“Our thanks to the Winvic team for completing The Range building at Gateway 14, Stowmarket both on time and to a very high standard, the collaboration shown and the effort and dedication put in by your site team was second to none. Hopefully we will continue our working relationship on our upcoming developments.”
James Mandley, Construction Director
“It’s always fantastic to work with new clients and it’s been a pleasure to partner with Jaynic to create an impressive facility for The Range. Jaynic put its faith in our team and in return we met deadlines and budgets and worked safely, confirming to our new client that they selected the right main contractor to deliver the project.”
