Work begins on £1.6m plant and equipment auction facility

Work has started on a plant auction facility for the world’s largest auctioneer of construction, agricultural and transport equipment – Ritchie Bros.

The facility is being built at the 486-acre former Maltby Colliery in Rotherham.

Leeds-based Edward Architecture has been appointed to design and deliver what will be the Canadian company’s first permanent purpose-built plant and machinery auction facility in the UK.

Edward Architecture has a long-term relationship with landowner Hargreaves on this ex colliery site.

The site has strong energy and access infrastructure, including its own railway link.

Planning permission was granted earlier this year for the 40-acre plot to accommodate the auction facility, which will hold both live and online auctions.

Edward Architecture helped agree the specification, site layout and building design as part of the original planning submission and also assisted Hargreaves in the deal to bring Ritchie Bros to Maltby from its former base at Donington Park.

When complete, the development will feature a new auction building, auction lot yard for equipment display, check-in building, and office space, as well as external works.

The 15,000 sq ft auction building will be constructed with a public sales auditorium with a fully glazed wall overlooking the ‘auction ramp’ where immense lots, including massive diggers, hydraulic excavators, rigid dump trucks and wheel loaders will be showcased to potential buyers.

Ritchie Bros auctions are attended by bidders globally in person or online and the scheme will deliver 3.5 acres of customer parking for auction days and a 2,000 sq ft check-in building.

The remainder of the 40-acre site will be an open display yard, following demolition of former mine buildings.

While auctions are taking place regularly using temporary facilities and a marquee, the next key milestone will be the completion of the auction building in October 2020 and the inaugural auction from the new facility.

The contractor appointed for the external works is MHH Contractors Limited and the Auction building contractor is O & P Construction.

The wider project team includes JNP Group as structural engineers, MRB as M&E consultants and NPS Barnsley as quantity surveyors.

Graham Edward, managing director, Edward Architecture said: “We are delighted to help facilitate and design the first purpose-built plant auction facility in the UK for such a prestigious, international auctioneer as Ritchie Bros.

“It’s fantastic to bring this unique and exciting development to Maltby, designed to conduct large multi-day auctions.

“Ritchie Bros has auction facilities around the globe so it’s great that they have added Maltby with its long, rich heritage to its list of high-profile locations.”

Rupert Craven, sales director, at Ritchie Bros UK, said: “We are very pleased with the plans put together by Edward Architecture and cannot wait to welcome our customers at our new facility once it’s complete.

“At Ritchie Bros., we are dedicated to providing our customers with the best buying and selling experience possible, and this site provides a great central location for equipment storage and inspection – even when all our auctions are virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic.”