Kingsbridge worked with the design team to secure a variation to the planning consent, clear pre-commencement planning conditions and tender the contract and gained possession of the site in January 2025. The project is being delivered at pace with practical completion targeted for end of August 2025.

The site is on reclaimed land which was previously part of the port operation, leading to some challenging ground conditions to overcome.

More than 2,000 Controlled Modulus Piles were used for the foundations – an innovative solution suited to weak or expandable soils. Significant site remediation works were required to address the proliferation of Japanese Knotweed, and foreshore works were carefully managed because of the presence of overwintering birds.

Preparation works also included a 79,486m3 cut and fill operation to redistribute existing materials on site and to remediate the existing site topography, levelling out the site in readiness for the permanent works. This secured a significant carbon saving over the alternative of transporting arisings off-site by road, which would have required at least an estimated 3,000 vehicle movements.

Features include a new 5.3 MVA power connection with 2km of cable into a new substation, and two car parks with a total of 896 spaces, including 652 delivery vans and spaces for staff. At launch the site will include 27 dedicated EV van chargers, and 25 for staff – above the minimum 10% required by the planning consent.

Other sustainability features include solar panels capable of 110kW of power generation, a targeted BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating, and EPC A for energy performance.

‍