900 jobs a step closer as £33m logistics hub marks milestone
Some 900 jobs have taken a step closer at a speculatively-built warehousing and logistics hub at King’s Norton, Birmingham.
Work is around a third of the way through at the Canmoor Asset Management and Tristan Capital Partners scheme, which is being carried out in partnership with regeneration firm St Francis Group.
The £33m Urban 8 Logistics Park will provide 400,000 sq ft of space.
Now, GMI Construction Group has marked a significant milestone at the development after carryin out a steel signing ceremony at the site.
Steel frameworks of five of the eight units have been erected and work to fit the composite metal cladding is underway.
The steel signing ceremony was carried out by Gareth Jones, GMI’s divisional mnaging director Midlands; Eugene Carnell, GMI’s senior project manager; Simon Dale, director of operations at St Francis Group, and Tom Maltby of Canmoor.
Situated on the former Pilkington Automotive and GKN Aerospace sites, the BREEAM Excellent rated units range from 25,000 sq ft to 70,000 sq ft. It is estimated the development could bring up to 900 jobs to the area.
Dale said: “This project not only represents a significant investment in the infrastructure and logistical capabilities of the Midlands but is a benchmark for future developments within the sector.
“It’s a development that’s close to our heart, being in our home city of Birmingham, and since GMI has been on site, its team has done a fantastic job in difficult conditions. It’s a testament to their commitment that the programme remains on schedule.”
Jones added: “This is a scheme that we particularly wanted to be part of to demonstrate our extensive capabilities. It will create local skills and employment within the city of Birmingham and the wider region.
“This steel signing ceremony marks a significant milestone in the project and symbolises the strong collaboration and collective dedication of the key stakeholders and supply chain to deliver this state-of-the-art logistics park.”
Maltby said: “The industrial market, certainly in the Midlands, is thriving from an occupier perspective, and from an Urban 8 perspective, we are very confident in this development.
“The steel is up, and the roof is on Unit 8, and we will be offering occupancy from November 2024 which is really exciting. This is the largest speculative mid box scheme in the region targeting occupation from Q4 this year.”
In 2019, GKN Aerospace announced the phased closure of its factory, which produced high-performance windscreens and windows for civilian and military aircraft, with work transferring to other sites. Meanwhile Pilkington Automotive consolidated its operations into a larger warehouse in nearby Redditch.
