Atlas Ward - Industrial Development - Pineham, Atlas Ward Provide Steel For Energy Efficient Building At Prologis Park Pineham

Date: 07 Sep 2007

Atlas Ward has recently completed work on the most environmentally friendly distribution centre in Europe. Located in Pineham, Northamptonshire this exemplary warehouse was awarded to them by main contractor Buckingham Group on behalf of Pan-European Developer ProLogis. This state-of-the-art distribution facility has been pre-let to major supermarket chain Sainsbury's.

Atlas Ward is responsible for the design, fabrication and erection of in excess of 2190 tonnes of structural steelwork and the size of the unit measures over 618,500 sq ft.

The scheme boasts outstanding links to the M1 and Eastern Ports. When completed it is anticipated that the development will provide approximately 1,500 jobs.

The warehouse will use a number of advanced features designed to markedly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions at the site.
They include:
- Innovative new wall-mounted photovoltaic panels that generate electricity.
- The Solar wall product that produces energy from daylight
- An on-site power plant that reuses the heat produced by air conditioning
- An on-site recycling facility
- Energy efficient lighting systems
- Air-tight construction that minimises energy loss through the external fabric of the building
- In addition the installation of a rain water system will harvest 16 million litres of water per annum which will be utilised in a variety of processes by Sainsbury's, and the creation of an ecological corridor which will enable plants and animals to form a natural habitat.

These energy savings, combined with ProLogis' investment in an accredited carbon credit system, will ensure that Pineham's flagship warehouse operates with a negative carbon footprint.

Ken Hall, managing director of global construction for ProLogis in Europe, said:
"When completed, the building will be amongst the most environmentally advanced distribution facilities in the World.

"Like Sainsbury's, ProLogis has made a corporate commitment to be the global leader in sustainable warehouse design. We recognise that experience and expertise in this area will be a key success factor for industrial developers in the future, in order to meet more stringent regulatory requirements and the demands of customers concerned about corporate social responsibility. We're very pleased to be partnering with Sainsbury's on this state-of-the-art development, which will deliver significant operational efficiencies and long lasting environmental benefits."

Nigel Pickard, managing director Atlas Ward Structures, said:
"We are delighted to be involved with Buckingham, ProLogis and Sainsbury's on this flagship project. The Severfield-Rowen Group Plc place the sustainability and carbon reduction issue high on the Plc agenda for 2007 and in the future."

"Significant investment and studies have already been undertaken with a view to maintaining our production facilities as the most efficient in Europe in relation to output whilst controlling our impact on the environment.

We are continuously working with the CA Group to develop the interface with their products and thus provide a frame solution to enable them to meet all the criteria for current regulations."

The scheme contributes to the 2006 UK Climate Change Programme and will bring over 1,500 jobs to the area.

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