Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects has been appointed by IM Properties to deliver phase three of Hinckley Park. Winvic has returned to the 82-acre Hinckley Park to construct the speculative 340,000 sq ft logistics and manufacturing unit with IM Properties targeting Net Zero Ready in line with the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) framework.

The delivery of Hinckley 340 is on the remaining 18 acres at Hinckley Park, located next to Junction 1 of the M69. The park is home to DPD who has one of Europe’s largest and most technically advanced parcel depots and a 532,000 sq ft unit let to Amazon. Winvic constructed both of these facilities.

Winvic will be constructing the BREEAM Excellent and EPC A rated Hinckley 340 in line with the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) framework for IM Properties to target Net Zero Ready by achieving Net Zero in Construction and introducing renewable tech into the building specification.

The unit has two-storey office space totalling 14,000 sq ft, a 3,000 sq ft pod office, a haunch height of 15m, 30 docks, and parking for 305 cars and 54 HGVs.

Winvic commenced earthworks for this next phase at Hinckley Park in September 2022 and will conclude the contract with the final landscaping works in November 2023. In addition to Hinckley 340, phase three will also include two other, Net Zero Ready smaller buildings of 47,000 sq ft and 60,000 sq ft.

Working in partnership, Winvic and IM Properties continue to play an active role in the community, committing through an Employment and Skills Charter to provide training and employment opportunities for local businesses and individuals during construction.

Winvic’s Head of Industrial, Distribution and Logistics, Danny Nelson, commented: “Our relationship with IM Properties continues to go from strength to strength, and once again we’re delighted the leading developer has put its trust in us to construct a new industrial and manufacturing facility with sustainability at its heart. We work extremely well together due to our values being aligned – from meeting quality and commercial goals to social value and sustainability targets – and the whole team is looking forward to completing the remaining external works in June and the unit in late 2023.”

Jason Jasper, UK Project Director at IM Properties said: “The increased transparency required for all businesses on the sustainability front allows Hinckley 340 to aid occupiers in futureproofing their operations ahead of regulation and set a benchmark within their own sectors. As a major investor in the Midlands, we hope to use our influence to help set industry standards and work alongside our occupiers and supply chain to create positive change and reduce carbon emissions.

“Winvic is part of our trusted supply chain and has worked in partnership with us across our schemes to deliver our sustainability ambitions and we are delighted to be working with them on Hinckley Park to deliver our next level of targets in line with our Sustainable Futures framework.”

Further information is also available at https://hinckleypark.co.uk.

For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit Twitter @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn.

The cost of living is rising, and everyone, no matter what their income might be, will have felt the effects of this. If you are a business owner, you might be wondering what you can do. After all, your own costs are rising, so putting your prices up makes sense, but people have less money, so this could lead to fewer sales. What options do you have?

One idea is to make money using your business premises, if you have one. An office space or a warehouse could bring in additional revenue if you think about the different options carefully. If you can do this successfully, you won’t have to put your prices up and yet you’ll still make more money. Read on for some ideas about how to make more money in this way.

Install Solar Panels

Installing solar panels on the roof of your office building or warehouse is not going to bring in a fortune. However, over time it will save you a fair amount of money on your heating and cooling bills, and if you ensure you put this saved money into a savings account or you plough it back into your business, you can make the most of it.

In some cases, you might even be able to sell electricity back to the grid, making additional money. Plus, there are grants that will help you pay for the installation in the first place. As we said, this is a slow way to make money, but it will still help, plus it’s good for the environment. Many customers will prefer to spend their money on eco-friendly brands, so your solar panels might create more sales.

Rent Out Your Space

If you have some spare space – perhaps because some of your employees are now working from home, for example – you could rent it out for a variety of different purposes. For example, if you have a large warehouse that is only partly used, wedding music bands could use it as a rehearsal space (subject to health and safety procedures, of course). If you have a conference room you hardly ever use, smaller businesses or those that are entirely remote could hire it out on an ad hoc basis.

No matter what space you have, someone somewhere is likely to need to use it, at least temporarily. Rather than paying for space you don’t need, you could put it to good use and make some money too.

Add Value To The Property

The more value you can add to your commercial property, the more money you can make from it. This does, of course, assume that you own the property rather than rent it, but if we work on that basis, this option could be a viable one to explore.

By installing better bathrooms, a good kitchen for staff to use, break rooms, conference rooms, and perhaps even an attractive outside space, you can make the property much better. This will entice higher-value employees who can do a good job, making your business more profitable, productive, and respected.

Alternatively, you might do the property up in order to sell it. The more value you can add to it, the better in this case, and you can then take the profit you make and invest it back into the business.

Property consultancy Knight Frank has sold a warehouse unit with offices on Avondale Industrial Estate in Cwmbran to commercial property developer PMG.

Acting on behalf of IG Doors Ltd, it sold the freehold of the 51,695 sq ft Unit 4 warehouse to PMG, which plans to spend a further £500,000 in refurbishing the unit.

Neil Francis, head of Logistics  & Industrial at Knight Frank in Cardiff, said: “The warehouse sits on a site of just over two acres to the north of Cwmbran Town Centre and its sale reflects the current popularity of the South Wales industrial sector among proactive developers who can recognise the opportunities that exist.”

PMG is a commercial property developer primarily focused on purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), industrial, retail and land assembly projects. Its major projects in South Wales include Cardiff City Stadium and the adjoining 480,000 sq ft Capital Retail Park and Trident Industrial Park.

Rick Guy, development director at PMG, said: “The purchase of Unit 4 on Avondale Rd in Cwmbran through Knight Frank is what we see as the first of a new drive into buoyant or undervalued sectors. We liked the unit as it provided a well-proportioned 51,000 sqft warehouse that was easily accessible from the M4, with good eaves height and offering different possibilities where we can add value.

“We plan to invest in fully refurbishing the unit over the next six months then market the property for rent.   Refurbishment works will primarily be focused on specific energy saving initiatives, new epoxy resin floors, refurbished offices, a new yard area and a potential partial re-clad of the entrance to the building.

“We have had a long relationship with Knight Frank and they will continue to act for us in the letting of Unit 4, Avondale, Cwmbran.”