A partnership between SEGRO and Winvic Construction is aiming to develop a circa 5m sq ft logistics park and 35-acre rail freight terminal in Northampton that will be net zero carbon in construction.
The partnership, called SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton, is planning to deliver the entire project at net zero carbon, including all infrastructure and enabling works.
This will be achieved through a number of innovations in the construction and procurement processes to reduce the amount of embodied carbon in the base build by around 40%, with any outstanding carbon being offset.
Initiatives include using recycled milk bottles for the site’s drainage system, and using salvaged bricks, metals, broken concrete and wood across the development. Almost 5m cubic metres of such materials have been retained on site for landscaping bunds, saving 7,978 tonnes of carbon.
The construction site will be powered by hybrid generators, which the partnership said will save 12 tonnes of carbon per week when compared with 100% diesel. Vehicles will be powered by green diesel.
Concrete used on site will contain 35% less carbon on average than traditional mixes, while all steel used will have at least 30% recycled content.
An on-site concrete batching plant means concrete will be produced to exact quantities and specifications required, significantly reducing waste and carbon emissions created through transportation.
Carbon that cannot be removed will be offset through a variety of initiatives focusing on social value, ecology and renewable energy. Those include peat bog restoration in the North East, a carbon farming project in Somerset and tree planting schemes. An initial 165,000 Verified Carbon Standard carbon credits have been purchased.
SEGRO said the learnings from its Northampton processes will inform its own carbon offsetting strategy.
The park will be located adjacent to Junction 15 of the M1. The development also includes significant infrastructure improvement works, including a bypass of Roade village, improvements to the A45 and M1 Junction 15 and extensive landscaping.
Andrew Pilsworth, managing director for national logistics at SEGRO, said: “Rapid advances in construction techniques and building design are enabling developers to deliver warehouse units more sustainably but SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton will be the first time net zero is achieved across an entire vast industrial site, including the delivery of all on-site and off-site supporting infrastructure.
“This is the result of a truly innovative approach from SEGRO and our partner Winvic to source recycled materials and embed the principles of the circular economy at all stages of the design and development process.
“Developments such as SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton are vital cogs in domestic and global supply chains, and it is critical we can deliver them to meet our customers’ requirements for net zero carbon warehousing and help the UK transition to a greener economy.”
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