Winvic appointed to major Daventry logistics hub
Construction firm Winvic will build out a 1.3m sq ft national distribution centre for retailer Marks & Spencer on behalf of Prologis, it has announced.
The complex at the DIRFT international rail freight terminal is part of a £340m investment by M&S, part of plans to double the size of its food business announced in August last year.
Two single-storey warehouses will be built at the 430-acre Northamptonshire terminal with the development set to include temperature-controlled storage, advanced automated fulfilment, returns and recycling operations, and dedicated office space.
Construction on the project is anticipated to last around a year.
Winvic says the fully-electric building will be the largest in the world to achieve BREEAM Outstanding certification while also targeting an EPC A+ rating, with sustainable features set to include a rooftop photovoltaic array, EV charging, and extensive use of recycled materials in the scheme.
Danny Nelson, managing director of industrial, logistics and data centres at Winvic, said the contract win was a “significant achievement” for the firm.
“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,” he said.
“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 (BIM) to its full potential to assist with this goal.”
Once completed, Prologis’ leased or committed space at the 430-acre logistics hub which it describes as the UK’s largest inland port, will rise to over 75%.
“Prologis is pleased to have appointed Winvic as our construction partner to deliver this complex large-scale logistics projects designed to meet the highest environmental standards,” said Paul Weston, regional head at Prologis UK.
“This development enables a future-fit supply chain for M&S and brings lasting economic value to the Midlands — through skilled jobs, resilient infrastructure and investment in one of the UK’s most important logistics locations.”
Around 1,000 permanent jobs are expected to be created by the scheme, with a further 1,000 construction-related roles during the building phase.
Alex Freudmann, managing director at M&S Food added: “We’re transforming M&S into a destination for the weekly shop and modernising our supply chain is central to that ambition.
“This investment will boost capacity for future growth, lower our cost to serve over the long-term, and improve product availability – ensuring customers find the right products in the right place at the right time.”
