Distribution
Logistics in the frame
22 NSC
Sept 19
Northamptonshire has in recent
times become the hub of
the UK’s distribution centre
infrastructure, as its geographic
location in the heart of England is a key
attraction, as is being close to the UK’s main
motorways and the area’s good links to the
port of Felixstowe via the A14.
This has helped the county to attract
leading retailers and logistics firms, as
well as branded food and consumer goods
manufacturers, to set up distribution
centres on its many purpose-built parks.
One of these is Warth Park, a 160-acre
logistics and business park, adjacent to the
A45 near Raunds, where a third phase is
now under construction.
The latest work includes two new steelframed
distribution centres for Howdens
Joinery (known as Units 2 and 3), which
will add to the company’s existing on-site
warehouse (Unit 1), which was completed
as part of Warth Park’s phase two (see box).
Steel is the most commonly used
framing solution for the construction of
distribution centres and the material has a
sector market share of approximately 90%.
The material enables large clear spans
– crucial for today’s modern distribution
centres - to be created easily and
economically. Designers also like the fact
that a steel frame can be easily modified,
strengthened and extended if a user’s
future requirements change.
“There are always options when it comes
to designing and building a warehouse,
An East Midlands logistics park is currently completing its third
phase, proving that steelwork has the right attributes to make it
the ideal framing solution for distribution centres.
Partitions subdivide
Unit 2 into three zones
/Retail_buildings#Distribution_centres
/Construction
/Retail_buildings#Flexibility