Cold storage hots up for contractor with two major projects

Manchester-based main contractor Russell WBHO is to deliver more than 350,000 sq ft of cold storage capacity for Lineage Logistics at two UK sites this year.

Work has begun on an 80,000 sq ft cold storage unit at the firm’s Northern Superhub at Heywood in Greater Manchester.

The project is the culmination of a multi-phase expansion of capacity at the site that Russells has supported over the last decade. In total, the team will have built 260,000 sq ft of space, housing upwards of 57,000 pallets, at Heywood since 2004.

Russells has also broken ground on a 230,000 sq ft fully-automated facility at Great Haddon near Peterborough that is the third phase of a project to create a South East Superhub.

It built the first two phases, which completed in 2018 and this year, and together the Superhub will have storage capacity for 118,000 pallets.

Andrew Russell, joint managing director of Russell WBHO, said: “The seamless working relationship developed over the last 15 years means we operate as a genuine extension of the Lineage team. Working together from the early concept stage, ensures the buildability aligns directly with the client’s requirements, budget and timescales.

“We are very proud to support the expansion of the UK’s largest cold storage and distribution operator, and will continue to deliver the high quality, state-of-the art facilities that their customers expect.”

Lineage Logistics is continuing a planned programme of expansion across the UK, responding to demand for cold storage facilities from manufacturers, retailers and food service providers. This significant investment brings Lineage’s total automated warehouse count in the UK to six, with a total of 525,000 pallet positions, of which 330,000 are automated.

Jonathan Baker, executive director, from Lineage Logistics said: “The value of the cold chain has never been so apparent as it is today, with pressure on food manufacturers and retailers resulting in increased demand for temperature-controlled storage and distribution facilities.

“The expansion of our storage capacity was already in progress due to existing demand, though the current situation has highlighted the need for an extensive and enlarged cold chain provision throughout the world.”