Main contractor Winvic Construction starts building £35.8m 325,000 sq ft industrial complex for Royal London on the site of the former Liverpool city region Rolls Royce factory. Tony McDonough reports
Winvic Construction has broken ground on the 325,000 sq ft industrial complex it is building for Royal London at the site of the former Rolls Royce factory in Bootle.
Royal London secured planning consent from Sefton Council for the scheme in November 2023. It will comprise four new industrial units and could provide employment for hundreds of people.
It is more than 20 years since Royal London acquired Atlantic Park Dunnings Bridge Road. Its initial ambitions for the site were hampered by the economic crash in 2008 and then by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It has since appointed Winvic to kick-start construction which is scheduled to last for 41 weeks. Atlantic Park comprises 52-acres and is the former site of the Rolls Royce engineering works factory and other industrial and commercial buildings.
Winvic will first be excavating existing concrete slabs and preparing the ground for construction. The four industrial warehouse units are 40,000 sq ft, 50,000 sq ft, 110,000 sq ft and 125,000 sq ft and each will comprise two-storey office space.
They have been designed in accordance with Royal London’s sustainability strategy, which aims for new build property developments to achieve net zero by 2030.
As part of the design strategy, 30% GGBS will replace in situ concrete, 98% recycled scrap metal will be utilised in the reinforcement steel and water recycling will reduce mains water use by 40% compared to the BREEAM target.
BREEAM Excellent and an EPC A rating is being targeted and the project will deliver a 10% biodiversity net gain. Bird, bat and insect nest boxes will also be installed.
Matthew Barnes, senior asset manager from Royal London Mutual Insurance Society, said: “We are pleased to be partnering with Winvic to deliver the next important phase of the Atlantic Park master plan, bringing much needed employment and economic growth.
“The scheme will showcase Royal London’s commitment to its sustainability principles and its ambition to create real long-term investment value for its members.”
Winvic has developed an employment and skills plan. It will work with Sefton@work and InvestSefton – as well as its supply chain partners – to match employment and training opportunities with people from the local area.
And it will collaborate with local education providers to provide career talks and work experience placements.
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Danny Nelson, Winvic’s head of industrial, distribution and logistics, added: “Our social value team has also begun planning and will be using their collaborative skills to bring benefits to local people.
“The site isn’t without its challenges due its former use, but we have successfully remediated the ground on numerous projects and are confident to deliver the scheme by the end of 2024.”