BEYOND THE BUILDING: December 2023

GMI SET TO DELIVER 400,000 SQ. FT WAREHOUSING AND LOGISTICS HUB IN BIRMINGHAM?

Developed by Tristan Capital Partners and CANMOOR , in partnership with regeneration specialists St Francis Group , the ￡32.9m Urban 8 Logistics Park will feature eight highly energy efficient units which range from 25,000 sq. ft to 70,000 sq. ft.

All will achieve a BREEM Excellent rating, and the project features a variety of sustainable measures including LED lighting, over 300,00kWh/annum of PV power generation, electric vehicle charging and energy saving infrastructure – resulting in overall CO2 emissions savings of 25%.

The high specification detached units, set amid landscaped surroundings, will be externally finished in composite metal cladding in various grey and silver finishes, with glazing incorporated into entrances and office spaces.

The speculative development, which could create 900 jobs, will add to Tristan Capital Partners and CANMOOR ’s already extensive I&L portfolio, and represents a considerable investment in the Midlands market. Henley-based St Francis Group will act as development managers taking responsibility for delivering the completed units.

Located off Eckersall Road, the 29-acre brownfield site is adjacent to the A441 and A38, offering fast connections throughout the region.

In 2019 GKN Aerospace announced the phased closure of its King’s Norton Factory, which produced high-performance windscreens and windows for civilian and military aircraft, with work transferring to other sites. Pilkington Automotive AGR Europe consolidated its operations into a larger warehouse in nearby Redditch.

In February 2021, Birmingham City Council granted full planning permission and the site was cleared in readiness for the multi-unit industrial logistics development.

Gareth Jones , GMI’s Divisional Managing Director, Midlands, said: “We are pleased to have been appointed principal contractor for this high-profile scheme, one that will support investment and create jobs by providing much-needed logistics and manufacturing space. GMI has a proven track record of delivering large, high specification industrial units across the Midlands, and we look forward to delivering another high-quality development that will meet market demand."

Ben Reaney , Project Development Lead at St Francis Group , added: “This warehousing and logistics hub is already keenly anticipated due to its prime location and mix of mid box units.

“Urban 8 Logistics Park will deliver levels of quality and sustainability that will exceed expectations.”

The development is due to be completed by Birmingham-headquartered GMI by Q4 2024.

GMI HAVE TAKEN A LEADING FRONT BY INSTALLING BLEED KITS ACROSS UK CITY CENTRE PROJECTS??

GMI Construction Group has become one of the first construction companies in the UK to implement bleed kits across select city centre projects.

In partnership with the The Daniel Baird Foundation Charity, GMI has taken a proactive stance to enhance public safety by installing bleed kits at select city centre sites in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and York. The kits will improve the survival chances of those who have been stabbed or suffered other traumatic injuries. This highlights GMI’s dedication to responsible business practices and its aim to make a positive impact on the communities it serves.

The The Daniel Baird Foundation Charity was founded in memory of the 26-year-old who tragically lost his life to a stabbing incident outside a Birmingham pub on July 8th, 2017. Daniel’s death was a result of the unavailability of essential first aid and bleeding control equipment at the scene. In response, his mother established the Foundation to prevent such tragedies and ensure that public-accessible bleed kits are readily available.

The bleed kits contain vital pieces of life-saving equipment such as gauze, tourniquets, trauma bandages and chest seals which can help stem a serious bleed prior to the arrival of emergency services.

GMI’s first bleed kit was installed on Bendix Street in Manchester, with the second installation completed at Dogpool Lane in Birmingham. These kits are affixed to external hoardings, mirroring the accessibility of defibrillators. In case of emergency, members of the public can contact the emergency services, who will provide a code to unlock the box to access the life-saving equipment.

The commitment to this initiative extends beyond the first two installations. GMI has installed bleed kits on projects, including No.3 Circle Square in Manchester, the Hyatt Hotel in Leeds, and James Street in York and with plans to install on sites in the North East.

Claire Preston , Head of Responsible Business at GMI Construction, said: “In the construction industry, safety is paramount, and at GMI, we’re committed to going above and beyond. Our partnership with the Daniel Baird Foundation Charity and the implementation of bleed kits reflects our dedication to making a positive contribution to the communities where we are working. “For the cost of a kit, a life could be saved. We are dedicated to making our city centres safer places for everyone, and this is a crucial step in that direction.”

Dr Lynne Baird MBE from the Daniel Baird Foundation Charity said: “We firmly believes that publicly accessible bleed kits are essential tools for providing immediate first aid to control bleeding until professional medical assistance arrives. The modest cost of a bleed kit can mean the difference between life and death in critical situations.”

Jayne Hanson of Birmingham Council said: “Initiatives like this are massively important. It’s great not only for passers-by, but also for accidents on construction sites. If we could get more construction sites across the city adopting these measures, that would great for the city.”

Wasim Ali Police Commissioner for Birmingham said: “We endorse the work that GMI have done installing these bleed kits on site. GMI have taken a leading front on how to deal with issues like bleed kits. The bleed kits can be used not just by victims of knife crime but also on construction sites. To have these kits in place will mean we can save lives early on and prevent more fatalities where we can.”

BREAKING GROUND IN GOOLE??

Siemens Mobility, Trebor Developments and GMI Construction Group breaks ground in Goole for new warehouse, the latest expansion of the Goole Rail Village

• Two new UK sites will provide warehousing for Siemens Mobility train depots across the country
• More than 40 roles created to support the new warehouses

Today, Siemens Mobility has announced their latest expansion project at the Goole Rail Village: the development of a new regional materials and logistics warehouse. The new site at Goole, alongside another warehouse at Kettering in the East Midlands, will store materials for Siemens Mobility train manufacturing and maintenance locations across the United Kingdom.

This latest addition to the Goole Rail Village further expands the sites portfolio of services and allows us to respond to customer needs even more quickly and effectively. Having two dedicated warehouses will reduce travel miles for train parts needed at depots helping to lower the carbon footprint, supporting the company’s goal to decarbonise operations by 2030. Siemens Mobility trains make up almost a quarter of UK passenger trains with maintenance locations from Central Scotland down to the South East of England.

Siemens Mobility is partnering with Trebor Developments LLP and long-term Yorkshire based partner GMI Construction Group PLC to build the 94,841 sq. ft warehouse set to open in the summer of 2024.

To mark the beginning of construction, Siemens Mobility hosted their partners alongside local MPs Andrew Percy and David Davis, inviting them to break-ground on the new site on Tom Pudding Way.

Sambit Banerjee , for Siemens Mobility said:

“This is a further expansion and investment into our Rail Village at Goole. Our partnership with Trebor and GMI Construction continues to embed our commitment to a local supply chain and supporting the economy.

“Bringing together our warehouse capabilities in one location serving our depots in the north, and another at Kettering for the south, allows us to focus on ensuring our depots can deliver the best service for the trains maintenance keeping availability and reliability at the forefront of what we do. This is another way we are actively focused on transforming the everyday for our customers and passengers.”

The Goole based Materials and Logistics warehouse will join the newly opened 102,500 sq ft warehouse in Kettering, further increasing Siemens Mobility’s significant UK footprint. These new modern facilities will service all Siemens Mobility’s rolling stock maintenance locations across the UK and create more than 40 direct roles including apprenticeship and intern roles.

David Davis, MP said:

“Siemens is a vital local employer, providing high quality, high-skilled jobs in the area constructing the next generation of trains for the London Underground.

It is fantastic to see Siemens going from strength to strength. Their decision to make further investment in Goole Rail Village and open another facility here is a massive vote of confidence in the local economy and workforce.”

The new warehouses will build on Siemens Mobility’s commitment to sustainability and digitalization by ensuring materials are only ordered when they are needed and stored closer to the point of use. The Goole warehouse will be a carbon neutral site, adhering to the company’s commitment to reaching net zero by 2030. The warehouses will use intelligent storage and transport planning systems, which will give greater visibility across the supply chain.

Greg Dalton , for Trebor said:

“We’re delighted to have agreed terms with a fantastic occupier at Point 36, our next project in Yorkshire, and achieve another major milestone in appointing the main contractor, GMI. Siemens Mobility were an obvious customer for us, and we’ve worked closely with them to ensure the unit satisfies their operation needs as well as to ensure that it can be delivered by next summer. We look forward to delivering the scheme.”

In 2021, as part of its commitment to UK jobs and growth and supporting the Government’s levelling up agenda, Siemens Mobility awarded the ￡40m contract to build its new rail manufacturing site at Goole, to Yorkshire-based GMI Construction Group PLC. Today, through Trebor’s appointment, Siemens Mobility continues this partnership with the local company, building on their shared vision of using local suppliers and workforce to expand the Goole Rail Village.

Andrew Hurcomb , Regional Director for GMI Yorkshire, for GMI said: “GMI are thrilled to be working in partnership with our client Trebor Developments to deliver another landmark development in Goole for end-user Siemens Mobility. Following the delivery of the ￡200m Train Manufacturing Facility GMI delivered for Siemens Mobility earlier this year in Goole, we’re delighted to be on site further expanding the rail village and once again to be bringing more opportunities to local supply chain members and key subcontractors in the area as well as further build on our long history of successful delivery in the industrial and logistics sector.”

The Goole rail manufacturing facility is currently in its final fit out phase before assembly of the new Piccadilly line trains for Transport for London begins in March next year. The new trains will start going into passenger service in London from 2025.

GMI SET TO EXPAND LEEDS CITY COLLEGE CAMPUS??

GMI Construction Group Ltd has secured a ￡27m contract to expand Leeds City College’s new Mabgate campus

The campus is already home to the college’s School of Events, Enterprise and Employability, as well as studio space for Leeds Conservatoire, which are both members of Luminate Education Group .

The project will transform the once derelict site into around 70,000 sq ft of educational space which will enhance the teaching and learning experience.

The development will create new learning spaces while contributing to the regeneration of the area and providing much-need community resources.

The initial stage of the project, which started last month, includes the partial demolition of existing buildings fronting onto Mabgate, which will make way for the construction of a new five-storey campus for University Centre Leeds and a new building for Leeds City College ’s English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) provision, currently the Enfield Centre, which will both operate as educational facilities.

As part of the construction of the ESOL building, Leeds-based GMI will also build a new atrium cafeteria, which will be located between the new building and the existing converted warehouse space, which is the hub of the Mabgate Centre, providing eco-friendly open-plan learning spaces and specially designed classrooms.

In addition to the construction of the new facilities, GMI will also undertake the refurbishment of the historic building, Studio 24, which is a popular arts and events space located within a former industrial building.

Chris Weathers , Group Commercial Director at GMI Construction, said: “We are exceptionally proud to have secured this project to support the expansion of this Leeds City College centre and the regeneration of this part of our home city. “It also represents part of our strategy to further grow our presence in public sector construction.” “We have a strong track record of public sector delivery, not only in Yorkshire, but our other regions including the North East, and securing this scheme further demonstrates our capabilities to support significant developments that will have a positive impact on communities.”

David Warren, Group Vice Principal of Development at Luminate Education Group, said: “These new developments at Mabgate form part of our commitment to supporting our members to deliver outstanding opportunities for learners. Both new buildings will replace old buildings in poor condition and we are delighted that significant funding was provided to us by the Department for Education through their capital transformation funding programme.

“The University Centre Leeds building will replace its current site at Park Lane, providing students with cutting-edge facilities, while the new space for Leeds City College’s in-demand ESOL provision will allow even more adults and young people to access vital English skills, in this expanded space.

“We’re pleased that this next phase of development consolidates our plans to support the regeneration of this up-and-coming part of Leeds, and hopefully attracts further investment in the area.”