Property news: Whitham Mills; Manchester Arndale; Charles Stephens & more

WASTE management machinery designer and manufacturer Whitham Mills has been appointed by sports-fashion retailer JD Sports Fashion to design, install and maintain a new waste management system at its national distribution centre at Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale.

The six-figure contract will see Todmorden-based Whitham Mills install a 1700mm wide conveyor which will transport waste cardboard to a 20 tonnes-per-hour baler, outside the main distribution centre building.
 
Waste streams in distribution centres are identified as a potential fire risk leading Whitham Mills to design an enclosed baler feed conveyor system which includes an automatic fire door and fire-suppressing sprinkler system.

If activated, the system automatically closes the fire door at the conveyor’s exit point, isolating the fire and allowing the sprinkler system to take control.

The design separates both the waste stream and its sprinkler system from the rest of the distribution centre reducing any risk of water and smoke damage to the stored stock awaiting fulfilment.

Fire risk at distribution centres were starkly demonstrated in September 2014 when a fire at online fashion retailer ASOS’s distribution centre in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was reported to have caused £30m of damage.
 
Whitham Mills managing director Ben Smart said: “At Whitham Mills we take the challenges set by our customers and identify efficient and imaginative systems which respond to their needs. There is rarely an off-the-shelf system which is suitable which is why our engineering know-how is so important to our customers.

“In this instance we’ve designed a system which will supress any fire in a way which will protect stock and allow the distribution centre to return to operations as quickly as possible.”

Whitham Mills secured the contract following a recommendation from JD Sports’ waste management company, Wheldon Brothers and will also be providing a service contract.
 
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MANCHESTER Arndale has achieved a merit at a national awards dinner for the shopping centre industry.

The Purple Apple Marketing Awards, organised by national industry trade body, the British Council of Shopping Centres, are the only ones in the country that recognise and award successful marketing in shopping centres around the UK.

Manchester Arndale is owned by M&G Real Estate and intu.

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THE Wirral’s largest independent funeral directors has begun a major programme of investment across its business.

Charles Stephens has opened a new branch in West Kirby and carried out a refit of its Heswall office.

During the next 18 months, the remaining five branches – Rock Ferry, Neston, Little Neston, Bromborough and Claughton – will also undergo refurbishment.

The programme coincides with the 120th anniversary this year of the fourth-generation family company.

Gemma Stephens, managing director of Charles Stephens, said: “We are extremely proud of our history of providing people in Wirral with a dignified funeral.

“Our staff remain committed to the traditions of providing the very best funeral services while, at the same time, ensuring we meet the requirements of today’s families.

“We are investing in our business on a number of different levels, most noticeably in terms of our new funeral home in West Kirby and the refurbishment of our other branches.

“We also believe passionately in the importance of investing in our people through apprenticeships and by ensuring that all our funeral arrangers have passed professional qualifications recognised by the National Association of Funeral Directors.

“As an independent family business, we have more flexibility than the larger national brands which means we can more readily adapt funeral arrangements to meet the specific requests of families.”

Charles Stephens was founded in 1896 by Charles Stephens and in 1993 merged with Henry Norman, another long established Wirral funeral directors.

Gemma Stephens took over as Managing Director from her father Jeremy six years ago. Jeremy continues to act as a senior consultant to the family business.

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BE Group has let an 8,600sq ft office to one of Europe’s leading managed hosting and network service providers Claranet at 620 Birchwood Boulevard Business Park in Warrington.

Birchwood Boulevard Business Park is an established office park owned by Frankel Brow, a property company of Betfred’s Fred Done.

The park comprises 41 self-contained offices which have recently undergone a comprehensive refurbishment.

Joint Letting agent Simon Roddam of BE Group commented “Birchwood Boulevard Business Park has been firmly repositioned in the local office market following a speculative refurbishment of the entire scheme.

The size mix of availability is geared towards occupier demand, and the recent spate of lettings is testament to the quality offer at the park.”

Roddam said: “Claranet consolidated two offices as part of their move to Birchwood. This move incorporated an existing Warrington base and an office in Salford Quays.

“Birchwood Boulevard Business Park provided the ideal property solution in what has been a significant office letting for Birchwood.”

Claranet UK committed to a 5 year lease, and were represented by GN2. Joint agents at Birchwood Boulevard Business Park are BE Group and Knight Frank.

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MINI-Cam, a market designer, manufacturer and supplier of pipeline inspection systems which principally serves the clean water and waste water utilities market, has announced the acquisition of a second premises to support the company’s continued international growth.
 
The new building, which sees the Warrington-headquartered business take 6,500sq ft of space at Kirkstead Way, Golborne near Leigh – close to its current site on Yew Tree Way – has more than doubled Mini-Cam’s operating space.

The expansion will enable the business to scale-up production and responds to increased demand from international markets for its products, notably USA and Germany.

Mini-Cam’s custom vehicle fit-out department will relocate to the new site, providing capacity for increased bespoke vehicle conversions, which will also feature a dedicated showroom for new products.

This will enable the business to showcase Mini-Cam’s full product range, while the additional space will provide scope for the future expansion of the business’ manufacturing department.

“These new facilities allow us to increase our capabilities in key areas that align with our current and future growth plans,” said Nigel Wilson, managing director of Mini-Cam.

“The additional space not only enables us to expand our capacity, to support current growth, it also provides us with dedicated facilities to host customer demonstrations and other activities.”

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INNOVA Design Solutions has completed a brief to deliver a brand new, interactive reception as part of a project to modernise Stockport Council’s Fred Perry House in the heart of the borough.

In a job spanning everything from concept and design to installation, Innova worked closely with Stockport Council and Carillion’s architects to create a contemporary, technologically advanced reception for Fred Perry House. 

Peter Smith, director at Innova said: “With the reception at Fred Perry House acting as both the public face and heart of the building, we wanted to create a space that improved the customer experience and retained a feeling of friendliness while freeing up staff to complete vital tasks.”