Prologis has awarded Winvic Construction the contract to deliver a new national distribution centre for Marks & Spencer (M&S).
Spanning 1.3m sq ft, the scheme at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) represents a £340m investment in M&S’s food supply chain and forms part of the company’s strategy to double the size of its food business.
Over the 52-week build programme, Winvic will construct two low-carbon, single-storey warehouses, which will include multistorey office accommodation, a security hub linked via a pedestrian bridge and a vehicle maintenance unit.
Infrastructure works at the site will involve intensive soil nailing to strengthen the embankment to the M1, earthworks, access roads, footpaths and a bridleway bridge.
External works include a gatehouse, service yards, HGV and car parking spaces, hardstanding drainage and landscaping.
Low-carbon credentials
The new facility will be fully electric, with embodied carbon reduced and assessed through Life Cycle Assessments in line with the RICS whole life carbon methodology, second edition, and the UKGBC framework definition.
The building is expected to be the largest in the world to achieve BREEAM Outstanding certification while also targeting an EPC A+ rating.
Danny Nelson, managing director of industrial, logistics and data centres at Winvic, said: “Being selected by our longstanding client Prologis as the construction partner on this landmark distribution facility is a significant achievement for the Winvic team.
“Our experience in delivering complex, large-scale industrial and logistics projects that are designed to meet the highest sustainability standards positions us perfectly to deliver this industry-leading facility for M&S.
“It’s a special project due to its low-carbon in construction credentials and BREEAM Outstanding target and we’re utilising a stage 2 building information model to its full potential to assist with this goal.”
