Recent developments announced in the North of England include a Leeds brownfield housing scheme, a new logistics centre in Greater Manchester and a net zero office in the city centre
A variety of projects have been announced this week in the North and North West, such redeveloping brownfield land in Leeds, a recycled steel and concrete logistics centre and the new pensions office and government building in Manchester city centre.
Bansco has been appointed by Network Space to deliver a logistics workspace in Altrincham with pre-let interest from Maersk
Broadheath Networkcentre will offer 206,000 sq ft of workspace across 25 units at the 11.5 acre former Cartwright headquarters. Maersk has already agreed to pre-let a 41,500 sq ft unit at the Atlantic Street site.
Supported by a £23.25m loan from Trafford Council, the regeneration of the brownfield site will offer refurbished space and new build workspaces, facilitating over 400 new jobs. Regional sub-contractors will be involved and local training and employment opportunities will be provided during construction.
Sustainable construction is a priority throughout the development
Across the scheme, Bansco and Network Space will be targeting EPC A ratings and BREEAM Very Good with low greenhouse gas emissions. Embodied carbon on site will be reduced through recycling existing steel and concrete structures.
Provision for electric vehicle charging and photovoltaic panels will also be installed across the entire Broadheath Networkcentre development.
Chris Liptrott, managing director of Bansco, said: “As a Greater Manchester company, we are delighted to be working with Network Space to regenerate one of the oldest industrialised sites in the area.
“The sustainability credentials of the development, and the quality of the space that is being delivered, is already starting to attract high profile occupiers. The development will create new job opportunities, during construction and after completion, helping to boost the local economy.”
Remaining units available range from 2,100 sq ft to 28,500 sq ft, with the Altrincham logistics development expected to complete in the summer.
Keepmoat begins construction on Leeds brownfield housing development
Keepmoat has broken ground on their Synergy housing development at Rathmell Road and Kendal Drive in Halton Moor, which is to be built on unused brownfield land in Leeds.
The team recently hosted a sod cutting ceremony to mark commencement of the Leeds brownfield development, which will deliver 109 new homes of two-, three- and four- bedroom properties to the area.
A percentage of these properties will be available for affordable housing provision though Leeds Federated Housing Association.
The development is the last site to be built as part of the Leeds City Council Brownfield Land Programme, which is designed to support the city’s growth and will provide over 1,000 new homes across 13 housing developments in East Leeds.
The project is delivering social value through apprenticeship opportunities
The homebuilder has also made commitments to the local community, with plans to work with local schools and employment groups to recruit young people through apprenticeship schemes, with two local apprentices already recruited to start their homebuilding careers at the Synergy site.
Michael Orgill, regional managing director at Keepmoat said: “We are delighted to have started construction at our Synergy development in Leeds and can’t wait to deliver these new homes for potential homebuyers in the area. As this is the last development to be built as part of the Leeds Brownfield Land Programme, we are incredibly proud of what we have already achieved in East Leeds for residents here.
“The new housing is designed to benefit people in the community and promote integration with design features such as open public spaces. By constructing this new development on brownfield land, we hope to make a positive impact in the community, alongside other work with local schools and youth groups. We’re also proud to have already hired two new apprentices to work on the site and gain valuable experience in a real-world work environment.”
The project is being delivered in partnership with Keepmoat and Leeds Federated Housing Association. The first of the new homes are expected to be complete by April 2023 with overall completion estimated for June 2025.
BAM appointed as main contractor for expansion of First Street Estate
Ask Real Estate (Ask) has announced the appointment of main contractor, BAM Construct UK, to deliver the next phase of office development at First Street in Manchester city centre.
It was announced in August last year that the Government Property Agency (GPA) has taken a 25-year lease on the entire building, which will accommodate around 2,500 staff.
It is expected that £31m in economic benefits will be generated by the relocation from London to Manchester of over 700 civil service roles, which forms part of the Government’s Places for Growth initiative.
The net zero office is projected to exceed sustainability targets
Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), a specialist insurer of defined benefit pension funds, has invested £105m to forward fund the expansion of the First Street estate with an
130,900 sq ft net zero in operation office.
Plot 9a will have a BREEAM minimum rating of Excellent and is also one of the first offices in Manchester capable of achieving a minimum NABERS Design for Performance rating of 5.5* stars or above – the highest level of environmental performance in use.
Using collaboration to deliver innovation
Ian Fleming, North West regional director at BAM added: “The ‘Holy Grail’ in the construction sector, which enables gold standard collaboration, is the early involvement between all the parties and in particular, developer and contractor. This pre-construction phase is where problems get identified and solved, partnerships are forged, and ideas and solutions realised that add value to a scheme and guide it to success.
“That’s our experience of working with Ask – it means our ability to enhance the sustainability and social value of how we work and what a scheme can achieve is improved. I know that the great challenges of a scheme like this can be met through the innovation and creativity our partnerships will bring.”
