Winvic Construction Ltd has started the main infrastructure works on a £107.5m contract win at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton Gateway (SLPNG), a 450-acre multi-modal logistics hub located next to Junction 15 of the M1.
The project has been designated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. The infrastructure works include the 35-acre Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) – capable of handling sixteen 775m long trains a day – new rail connections and significant improvements to the strategic road network.
These involve major upgrades to junctions 15 and 15a on the M1, a new bridge over the West Coast Mainline, the construction of a bypass around Roade, improvements to the A45 and safer junctions along the A508.
The project also includes five million square feet of modern, highly sustainable industrial facilities and a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI).
It will be delivered by Winvic in partnership with Highways England, Network Rail and local authorities.
Winvic will undertake an extensive landscaping programme for the work, over 80 acres of parkland and amenity grassland, 18km of footpaths and cycleways, 20km of hedgerows and the planting of 60,000 new trees.
The first plots are scheduled to be ready for building construction to start in late 2021 and infrastructure works are anticipated to be completed by the end of 2023.
Winvic has been conducting enabling works for SEGRO since last summer, including ecology, archaeology and geotechnical site investigations to prepare the site ahead of this next phase.
Around 7,500 direct jobs will be created by the scheme and an employment skills programme will be developed to provide training for members of the local community to join the workforce.
Rob Cook, civils and infrastructure director at Winvic, said: 'SEGRO is a long-standing client of ours so we’re delighted to have won the SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton Gateway contract.
'Our partnership is a proven success on similar large-scale schemes such as SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway. Winvic is therefore no stranger to delivering strategic rail freight schemes and managing cross-agency liaison such as co-ordinating with local authorities and Highways England to mitigate disruption.'
Andrew Pilsworth, SEGRO’s managing director, national logistics, said: 'Now more than ever we are witnessing the vital role logistics is playing in supporting the UK economy and it’s clear that businesses need well located, sustainable facilities from which they can meet their customers’ demands.
'SEGRO Park Northampton Gateway is perfectly located with easy access to key road networks and with the new rail links and Strategic Rail Freight Interchange, will present great opportunities for businesses to flourish.'
