Atlas Ward Structures - Industrial Development - Avonmouth, Avon

Date: 29 Apr 2008

Atlas Ward has recently started work on the largest bonded warehouse in Europe alongside a world-class bottling plant. The project is based in Avonmouth and was awarded to them by main contractor Fitzpatrick Contractors on behalf of developer Goodman. The Ultimate Client is Constellation Europe one of the largest drinks companies in Europe and is part of Constellation Brands Inc the largest wine company in the world and a leading producer and exporter of wine from the USA, Australia and New Zealand.

Atlas Ward is responsible for the design, fabrication and erection of in excess of 2860 tonnes of structural steelwork.

The project consists of a large warehouse and production centre together with associated offices and ancillary buildings in Avonmouth, Bristol. The warehouse measures approximately 527,431 sq ft and the Production Centre measures 285,243 sq ft. In total the project measures approximately 870,000 sq ft.

The new facility will be near the existing distribution centre in Avonmouth, and represent the Constellation Europe's biggest investment in premises to date.

New Constellation Europe president Troy Christensen said: "It will deliver for us greater efficiency and expanded capacity to grow our business."

The distribution and bottling plant will cover 870,000 sq ft, increasing warehousing capacity by 80,000 pallets - or approximately 53 million bottles of wine. It will be able to fill around 120 million bottles of wine every year.

Christensen said: "It is important to use to further improve the resources available to our people, further improve our service and efficiency to customers and suppliers and also improve the impact we have on the environment and the communities where we operate.

"As a business, Constellation, in the UK and worldwide, has a track record of creating world-class facilities. With what we have announced, we will further enhance that reputation. This investment will help transform and grow our business in the UK and Europe."

The aim of the development is to cut shipping and reduce the mountain of imported green glass produced by British wine drinkers.

Instead the wine will be brought in large containers and bottled in Avonmouth before going on to be sold.

The environmental group, Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) said the UK was the largest importer of wine in the world, with more than a billion litres imported from Europe and the New World.

"Bulk importation can reduce shipping costs by up to 40% and benefit the environment by using less fuel for transporting full bottles," a spokesman said.

The distribution and bottling plant will create up to 100 new jobs and should be operational in early 2009, while the new offices should open later the same year.