Now that reserved matters approval for Phase 3 of MEPC’s development at Silverstone Park has been granted, we reflect on our input into this major new technology park.
Silverstone Park is situated in Northamptonshire, at the heart of the Silverstone Technology Cluster, and provides a global destination for innovation, business development and high-tech engineering. Owners MEPC are developing the site into a technology park with approximately 2.1 million sq. ft. of primarily light industrial floorspace for engineering and technology companies.
The development sits at the centre of the Oxford, Milton Keynes, Cambridge Growth Corridor, with proximity to London and excellent transport links to the rest of the UK and beyond.
Outline planning permission has been granted and the first phases of construction are underway and nearing completion. Phase 3 of the scheme will enable MEPC to deliver larger footprint buildings on site of up to 100,000 sq ft. The wider site will also incorporate a hotel, gym, nursery and café as well as an innovation centre.
Glanville has played a key role in the project since outline planning consent was granted. The civil engineering team has provided advice covering flood risk, drainage, utilities, transport and highways that was instrumental in securing the approval of reserved matters following the granting of outline planning permission. This work was supported by extensive topographical surveying and underground utilities tracing carried out by Glanville’s geomatics teams.
In addition, Glanville has been responsible for the detailed civil engineering design of incoming utilities and foul drainage to facilitate the full quantum of development, and the civil and structural engineering design for the first phases comprising 258,000 sq. ft. of new industrial floor space.
Glanville’s transport & highways team has undertaken the detailed design of a comprehensive package of off-site highway works to increase the capacity of local junctions, improve road safety and enhance waking and cycling connectivity, securing technical approval from, the highway authorities.
John Birch, Glanville Director, said” This is an exciting project, one we are proud to have been involved throughout its development, continuing our long-standing relationship with MEPC, which demonstrates Glanville’s multi-disciplinary capabilities at planning and detailed design stage.”
Phase 3 includes four large industrial units with a combined gross floor area of around 265,000 sq. ft. The design of the buildings provides flexibility with larger units able to be divided into two or three smaller units to enable a company to grow into a building over time, or sub-let in part if a business has to streamline in the future.
The layout has been designed to create a campus-style development in a high-quality landscaped setting providing pedestrian, cycle and vehicle access. Located opposite the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit the industrial and workshop units will suit high-tech engineering companies of all sizes, with the designs enabling occupiers to personalise their buildings with their own corporate branding whilst retaining the development’s common style.
Civil & structural engineering: Glanville Consultants
Contractor: Barnwood Construction
Architects: Michael Sparks Associates
Project Manager / Cost Consultant: Ridge & Partners
