NET ZERO PROJECTS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED
NET ZERO FOR WINVIC’S 12TH UNIT AT SLPEMG
With Plot 5 completed in summer 2023 – the twelfth industrial facility that Winvic has constructed adjacent to Junction 24 of the M1 – the 700-acre SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway is now fully built out. However, we also won the contract to fit out the unit for end user Maersk, so we will remain on site until the end of 2023 – that’s a total of seven years we’ve been there delivering projects, since we commenced the Civils and Infrastructure scheme in January 2017.
The single storey storage and distribution warehouse is 600,000 sq ft and comprises 40 dock levellers and 2 level access ‘drive-in’ doors. A four-storey 35,000 sq ft office and two 2,150 sq ft two-storey dispatch offices have also been constructed and there is parking for 500 car and 50 HGVs. We delivered the project within 48 weeks, however 50 per cent had to be ready for fit out, six weeks prior to handover. These works included 15-metre-high racking across two-thirds of the warehouse and in-rack sprinklers and power, plus the fit out of the two hub offices and full IT data connections throughout. We have handed over our work, but Maersk also requested that we continue to manage the site while some other works take place, such as lift installation. BIM Level 2 has been utilised, which has not only helped to deliver the industrial unit more efficiently and in a tighter timescale, but also to help ensure it achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating and would be appraised as Net Zero in construction. Due to the nature of industrial warehouse units, naturally large quantities of concrete, cement and steel – all high embodied carbon materials by default – but on this project we conducted trials to reduce cement content within our mixes by using additives such as GGBS and recycled aggregates and increased the recycled content of the structural steel to reduce embodied carbon.
For the construction of Plot 5, we have made a 39 per cent reduction in Whole Life Carbon against the RIBA Stage 4 Life Cycle Assessment.
PLOT 5 Carbon reduction
Rob Bull, Construction Director
“Plot 5 at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway has been a significant project as it showcases many of Winvic’s expert abilities. Digital design using BIM Level 2 has been utilised, it’s Net Zero in construction and we were appointed by the end-user, Maersk, to undertake the fit out. The industrial facility is also the culmination of the 700-acre logistics and distribution park and Strategic Rail Freight Interchange, which we commenced, along with complex highways works, seven years ago. Plot’s 5 completion is a moment to be proud of for the whole Winvic team.”
THREE NET ZERO PROJECTS HANDED OVER TO TUNGSTEN PROPERTIES
Winvic has completed three Net Zero projects for client Tungsten Properties – Warrington, Bradford and Wakefield.
Warrington, The ‘Super W’ scheme – now occupied by Farm Foods – is a 210,000 sq ft warehouse with 30,000 sq ft of office space in Warrington, and the project also included the demolition of the existing buildings and over 15,500 cubic metres of cut and fill works. We achieved an embodied carbon output of just 375kgCO2/m2 (25-years) and 449kgCO2/m2 over the whole lifecycle of the development (60-years). 98 per cent of construction waste was diverted from landfill and water consumption in operations was reduced by 40 per cent – there’s so many percentages our team can be proud of! ‘Super B’ at Interchange 26 Bradford comprises warehouse space of 215,000 sq ft, two-storey office accommodation totalling 15,000 sq ft and a 1,000 sq ft service yard office. Additional material management was required due to site entrance restrictions and the adjacent watercourse meant we created and followed a detailed water management plan.
On this project, we achieved a carbon output of 405 kilos per m2 and 457 kilos per m2 for the whole lifecycle (60-years). Numerous Green Supply Chain partners helped the project reaching is sustainability targets, for example, 22 per cent recycled steel was used in the project. Wakefield Calder Park, Wakefield is a 331,000 sq ft industrial facility which was pre-let to Cubico Ltd, trading as Easy Bathrooms for its new HQ and national distribution centre. The high specification unit has achieved net zero carbon in construction and is rated BREEAM Very Good and EPC A. We achieved a carbon output of 384 kilos per m2 and 442 kilos per m2 for the whole lifecycle (60-years). 98 per cent of construction waste was diverted from landfill and water consumption in operations was reduced by 40 per cent. Operational carbon emissions were reduced by 29% over Building Regulations.
CONTINUING A NET ZERO THEME WITH FIRETHORN DEVELOPMENTS
We partnered for the first time with Firethorn Developments in March 2021 to deliver not one, but eight Net Zero units at the 25.5-acre Ascent Logistics Park in Leighton Buzzard. Client Firethorn was so delighted with our work they appointed us to construct two more Net Zero Carbon industrial units at Link Logistics Park in Ellesmere Port. Designed to also achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’, the scheme was handed over in July 2023. Sustainability initiatives include roof mounted solar panels and multiple electric charging points for cars and HGVs, with additional car and HGV bays future proofed for the installation of rapid chargers.
We achieved a betterment of 32.4 per cent on this project against the RIBA Stage 4 Life Cycle Assessment, with the help from our Green Supply Chain. For example, steel rebar utilised consisted of 98 per cent recycled content and through a partnership with a recycling social enterprise who work with people from challenged backgrounds, we removed 1307 tonnes of waste, of which 99% was diverted from landfill. This collaboration also supported in the delivery of £465,470 spend on social value activities and the delivery of 3,617 meals.
32.4% betterment against RIBA Stage 4 Life Cycle Assessment
Unit 1 comprises a 613,700 sq ft warehouse with 68 loading docks and 12 double height docks, 31,000 sq ft office accommodation and two hub offices totalling 5,360 sq ft; on the roof we installed 150 m2 of PV. Unit 2 contains a 99,800 sq ft warehouse and a 5,700 sq ft first floor office, and also benefits from 50 m2 of PV. The yard space totals 50,300 sq ft across both facilities and 609 car and HGV spaces have been created.
Danny Nelson, Director of Industrial, Distribution and Logistics
“Winvic’s reputation for delivering quality industrial schemes is evidently being bolstered by our ability to deliver our clients’ net zero ambitions. It’s fantastic we have been given the opportunity to work on two landmark developments with Firethorn and build upon our partnership with them as their presence within the UK logistics market continues to grow. We have worked hard to exceed expectations and hope to do so again in the delivery of future schemes.”
5 NET ZERO FACILITIES IN COALVILLE
RANGING FROM 25,200 TO 104,400 SQ FT
New client Harworth Estate Investments Ltd appointed us to deliver the infrastructure and vertical build works for five industrial units, with unit 5 designed to be split into two in the future if required. Each facility has two-storey office facilities ranging from 1,400 sq ft to 5,800 sq ft and the warehouse spaces range from 25,200 sq ft to 104,400 sq ft.
The project – handed over in November 2022 – also included Section 184 works to form temporary site access and Section 287 works to create a new entrance to the Bardon Hill site in Coalville. The earthworks and external programmes comprised 191,000 m3 of cut and fill, car parks, associated foul and surface water drainage works, including below ground attenuation, and new statutory services and drainage installations. We realised Harworth’s goal of a Net Zero Carbon development through our robust processes and measures, incorporating materials that have less intensive carbon footprints, sourcing local materials and engaging a regional workforce. Our established method was just one reason why new client Harworth selected us for this scheme. Hybrid and electric plant and machinery were used on the project and our site cabins used smart metring and a battery back-up generator, all helping to reduce fuel consumption.
The scheme achieved a 42.1 per cent reduction of embodied carbon emissions
against the RIBA Stage 4 Life Cycle Assessment and the remainder has been offset on schemes focusing on ecology, social value and renewables. The project meets BREAAM ‘very good’ and EPC A ratings and the units have been designed to facilitate Net Zero Carbon in operation; EPC A+ can be achieved following the installation of solar PV. EV charging facilities, brise soleil – to reduce solar gain and minimise the load on mechanical cooling and heating systems – and cycle stores with green roofs have been baked into the design. We also created a habitat management and creation plan, monitored and maintained locally significant habitats throughout construction and undertook monthly ecological surveys to manage newts. Amphibian fencing, wildlife and balancing ponds, hibernacula, log piles and bat and bird boxes were installed and new wet grassland areas were created as part of the ecological enhancements.