Scannell Properties and Royal London Asset Management Property have awarded a contract to McLaren Construction to build TN2 Gateway, a new development of prime warehouse and industrial facilities at Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

The scheme will deliver around 505,000 sq ft of much-needed warehousing accommodation with ancillary office space on a 33-acre site.  Six flexible buildings can be configured as up to nine units, ranging from 23,000 to 175,000 sq ft.

The scheme is targeting BREEAM Outstanding and an EPC A+ rating. Plans include photovoltaic panels on all buildings, green roofs, carbon-neutral heating systems, energy efficient lighting and electric vehicle charging.

McLaren is contributing to sustainability by using hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) instead of fossil fuels and sourcing low carbon materials, such as ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) cement, structural and reinforcement steel from electric arc furnaces and pre-cast low carbon concrete planks for office structures and retaining walls.

A high-quality landscaped setting preserves an area of ancient woodland and adds wildflower meadows, a pond, new tree planting and green buffer zones.

McLaren Construction’s managing director for industrial and logistics, David Gavin, comments: “This will be a stunning setting for an industrial park, with a generous planting scheme that blends sympathetically with the surrounding area. Creating the on-site part of that landscape is one of the most complex parts of the project. It’s more important than ever to draw on our environmental management experts to minimise the impact of construction.”

The first buildings are due to be ready for occupation in 2026. McLaren’s subcontractor team includes:

· Steelwork: B&K Structures

· Wall and roof cladding: CA Group

· Whitewall: Cold Clad

· Pre-cast warehouses: Modular Cubed

· CMC piling: Keller

· Curtain walling/glazing: Ridgeway Facades

· Photovoltaics: Watt Energy

· Passenger lifts: Kone

· Siphonic drainage: Sapaflow

· M&E: UME

· Dock levellers and doors: Promstahl

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