- Thames Estuary Envoy, Kate Willard, marks start of construction with golden bolt
- Developer, Bericote Properties, is one of Thames Estuary’s inaugural ‘Visionaries’ delivering good, green growth
- Construction of the centre will be completed in July 2021 and create at least 400 jobs
Today in Dartford, Kent, Thames Estuary Envoy Kate Willard screwed a golden bolt into the steelwork of the 2.3m sq ft new distribution centre, marking the beginning of its construction.
Bericote Properties are the developers behind the ambitious project which will be the distribution centre for a global online retailer, transforming a decommissioned power station into c. 97 net acres of prime development land.
The site, situated near the Dartford Crossing, will deliver much needed high-specification logistics space for London, as well as bringing significant employment opportunities to local communities. Construction of the centre will be completed in July 2021 and create at least 400 jobs.
The aim for the new distribution centre is to be as sustainable as possible and achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. It will have 40No Electric Vehicle charging points; there will be no mains gas to the development and instead it will be powered by the largest PV scheme on a new development in the UK; and it will enhance biodiversity by constructing one of the largest green roofs of any building outside of London.
At the site, 99% of materials from the former power station were recycled, saving the equivalent of c.2 million tonnes of CO2, and 280,000m3 of clay imported has been diverted from landfill to raise ground levels. 30,000m3 of aggregate will be delivered to site by barge along the river, taking 4,000 HGV movements off the road.
Thanks to its sustainability goals and achievements, Bericote Properties has been made an inaugural Estuary Visionary: an accreditation awarded by the Thames Estuary Growth Board to companies which put ‘good, green growth’ at the heart of their operations, policies and values.
‘Good, green growth’ is a core focus for the Thames Estuary Growth Board’s action plan, ‘The Green Blue‘. It means driving economic growth whilst ensuring that natural assets continue to provide the resources on which our wellbeing relies.
Thames Estuary Envoy, Kate Willard, said: “The sun is shining on us here in the Thames Estuary which augurs well for great things to come. Bericote Properties set the standard very high when it comes to good, green growth and I hope to see many more companies in the Estuary follow their lead.”
Jonathan Maher, Director at Bericote Properties, said: “Kate and the Growth Board have been vital to our plans because they truly make things happen. The development of this distribution centre is our biggest project yet, and we have worked hard to consider sustainability at every step. To have that recognised and be one of the inaugural Visionaries is a great achievement.”