Manchester Airport scheme
meets top ESG goals

For Columbia Threadneedle Investments, Workman’s Venture Projects team has project managed the development of a 90,000 sq. ft industrial and logistics scheme at Manchester Airport’s World Freight Terminal, part of a 650,000 sq. ft estate of logistics space across 57 acres.

Currently handling more than 111,000 tonnes of air cargo annually, with occupiers including Dnata, Swissport, FedEx and Menzies Aviation, Manchester Airport’s World Freight Terminal boasts ample capacity for future cargo growth. It is an international gateway for the UK’s northern distribution networks and offers direct access to national motorway network.

Columbia Threadneedle Investments purchased the site from Manchester Airports Group as part of a £380m deal in 2020, as reported by Place North West.

Workman’s Venture Projects team was enlisted as Project Manager, Employer’s Agent and ESG Consultant for both the demolition and new build phases of the £12.46m redevelopment project for Building 401 (B401).

A new-build industrial warehouse and logistics scheme, it is divided into three warehouse units designed for storage, with ancillary offices over two storeys. The three new units replace an existing obsolete unit and comprise 36,000 sq. ft, 27,000 sq. ft, and 21,000 sq. ft buildings.

The development, which has now achieved practical completion, is designed to meet demand for increasing freight traffic coming through the airport, while providing further export opportunities and supporting the growing e-commerce market.

Strategic ESG initiatives

The three units have each achieved EPC A+ and have targeted BREEAM Excellent, having benefited from a range of strategic ESG initiatives, devised by the Workman ESG Project Advisor service.

These included:

• 14 electric vehicle charging points.
• 850m2 of solar PV panels with 180kW total output (individual metered system per unit).
• Practical Completion Whole Life Carbon Assessment: upfront (modules A1-A5) 427kgCO2/m2 GIA, which aligns with LETI 2020-2030 average sector design target.
• High use of cement replacement content in concrete: 70% Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS), which has improved the embodied carbon position.
• Whole-building energy intensity of 42kWh/m2/year, which projects the Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor (CRREM) stranding risk beyond 2044.
• Synapsis system, allowing remote energy monitoring.
• Leak detection on water and refrigerant systems.
• UKGBC Net Zero Carbon-construction aligned.