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Warehouse Construction West Midlands

Our warehouses are constructed to match the way your business operates, not just to have a roof. The West Midlands is the largest industrial region apart from London, its foundation being motor manufacturing, home to motor vehicles and the most extensive motorway network in the country. Whether it's logistics facilities on the M6 and M42 or factory units and storage buildings throughout the conurbation, Warehouse Construction Contractors handles the entire process from beginning to end. If it's a new build, an extension or a refurbishment, a single team will handle the job from the very first site visit right through to handover.

Warehouse Construction West Midlands

Warehouse Construction Across West Midlands

or over two centuries the West Midlands has been an industrial powerhouse and it remains so. Birmingham is the second city and the principal part of the largest industrial market outside London; around it are situated Wolverhampton, Coventry, Solihull, Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell, each of which has its own industrial base and its own history.
Manufacturing is a major feature of the area. The Black Country, which includes Dudley, Walsall, Sandwell, and Wolverhampton, earned its reputation through metalworking and heavy industry, and a large part of that tradition continues, alongside more modern forms of manufacturing. Both Solihull and Coventry are at the centre of the UK's car industry, boasting major automotive factories and the supply chains that support them. This combination of heavy manufacturing, the automotive sector and distribution creates a continuous need for industrial buildings.
Roads play a major role in the story. The West Midlands is at the heart of the motorway system: the M6 runs through it; the M5 runs southwest; the M42 and the M40 connect to it to the south and the southeast, respectively; and the M6 Toll provides an alternative route, avoiding the most severe congestion. Birmingham Airport also contributes to freight capacity, and when it comes to distribution, no other area in the country is better connected.
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Warehouse Construction Services

New Build Warehouses

The construction of a new warehouse begins before the first foundation is laid. When we visit the site, we inspect the ground, access, routes and services, and note down any factors that might affect the design or schedule. In the West Midlands, many of the sites are ex-industrial land, so the ground must be thoroughly checked before any design work is carried out.
Next is the design and the cost estimation. This includes the frame size, the specifications for the floor slab regarding your racking and vehicles, the height, and the arrangement of the yard and parking spaces. In most warehouses in the UK a steel portal frame is used on a concrete slab; we begin from there and make the necessary adjustments according to the way you'll use the building.
The construction proceeds in this sequence: groundworks, then the frame, followed by the roof and cladding, and finally the fit-out and external works. Throughout the process, you work with a single team and have one point of contact; unlike the situation where five contractors blame one another when things go wrong.

Distribution Centres

More consideration is needed for distribution centres than for a standard unit since mistakes in this area are expensive to rectify later.
The design is generally based on high-bay racking, the height and the distance between the frames being determined in relation to the racking and the equipment that is going to run inside it. We look this over with you and your racking supplier at an early stage so that the building will match the operation.
The dock levellers and loading bays must be suitable for your vehicles and the volume of traffic; the number of doors and their positions have an impact on the yard and on how quickly you can turn the trucks around. We plan the yard with these factors in mind: turning circles, parking spaces and areas for queuing. If we get this wrong then the site will become a bottleneck.
The other major component is the floor slab; because it has to carry heavy racking loads and must be flat for narrow-aisle trucks, it has to be correct the first time.
 

 

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Logistics Facilities

The logistics sector includes cross-docking, parcel hubs and e-commerce fulfilment, each of which has its own requirements.
For cross-docking, it is necessary to have a quick flow of goods, with entrances and the yard arranged so that the goods can move smoothly from one truck to another. In the case of e-commerce and parcel handling, warehouse space is usually combined with mezzanine picking areas, together with heavy requirements for power and data regarding the conveyors and the sorting equipment. If the frame, the floor loadings and the service routes are properly determined at the design stage, the fit-out can then be carried out smoothly later.
The fact that the West Midlands is situated at the heart of the motorway network means that it is one of the most well-connected areas in the country for this type of operation.
Automation is nowadays a common feature—this includes automated storage systems, conveyors, and robotic picking systems. Such equipment requires a certain degree of floor flatness, a reliable power supply, and in some cases its own separate foundations. In order to ensure the building is prepared for the equipment, we co-operate with the automation suppliers during the design phase.

Manufacturing Facilities

In the West Midlands this type of work is important because of the presence of manufacturing in the area. Although manufacturing buildings are similar in structure to warehouses, there are differences in the details. Production lines usually require more power, process drainage, separate spaces, and floors that are built to accommodate the equipment.
The first step is to understand the process and then design taking that into account. We look at the use of overhead cranes for heavy components, ventilation and extraction in relation to production, and the way in which materials move around the site. Because of the region's strong tradition in the automotive and engineering sectors, many of these buildings have special requirements and our design and construction work takes those requirements into consideration right from the beginning.
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Warehouse Extensions

Building onto a warehouse involves more than simply providing extra floor space; the new section has to fit into the present structure, match the cladding and the roof, and be compatible with the existing drainage and access arrangements. Before designing the connection, we assess what the existing building can withstand.
The majority of businesses would like to remain open during working hours. In most instances the warehouse continues to operate. This is due to the need to carry out proper sequencing, to maintain the join as weathertight, and to keep construction traffic out of the areas where work is being done.
The roof slope, height, framing spacing and cladding all have to match so that the extension forms part of the building rather than being an awkward addition.

Warehouse Refurbishments

A great deal of our work involves existing buildings since the West Midlands has a large number of them. This refurbishment can involve either specific repairs or a complete strip-back and rebuild of the roof, the floor, the cladding, the services and the offices.
Roofs and external wall coverings are usually dealt with first, particularly in the case of older buildings in which the insulation, watertightness and fire resistance do not meet the present standards. The floors may require repair, an overlay or a complete replacement and the services in older buildings are generally of insufficient size or have worn out and so need to be upgraded before a new tenant moves in.
It is common to carry out office upgrades, ranging from Cat A to Cat B depending on how far the work is taken. Since we operate through our sister company, Strip Out Company, we take responsibility for the strip-out and demolition, including carrying out surveys and the removal of waste, so that the site is ready before any refurbishment work begins.

Design and Build

Designing and building involves taking the project from its initial concept through to the completion of the building. We begin by understanding your requirements, then proceed with the design, taking into account the actual budget and schedule.
Planning is included in what we do. The West Midlands consists of seven metropolitan boroughs: Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Solihull, Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell, each of which has its own local plan and carries out its own planning under a combined authority that covers the wider area. As part of the design process we take into account the requirements of the appropriate borough for your site. The Building Regulations are incorporated from the beginning and not added at the end.
The cost analysis is carried out at the same time as the design, enabling you to establish the actual figure before making a commitment. It's not a price that is reduced once the tenders are received.
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Sectors that we build for

Automotive & Advanced Manufacturing

The West Midlands houses the main part of the UK's car industry, featuring large automotive factories in the areas of Solihull and Coventry as well as a well-developed supply chain to support them. Since these operations require buildings that have a great deal of power, access to special services, crane facilities and floors suitable for heavy equipment, we take that into account when designing and constructing.

Distribution & Logistics

Because of its motorway network the area serves as a base for both regional and national distribution. To carry out these operations it is necessary to have large warehouses with spanned roofs, a lot of dock doors and freight yards designed for continuous truck traffic. The building and the site are designed in accordance with the actual way in which goods and vehicles move.

Metalworking & Engineering

The metalworking and engineering tradition of the Black Country remains an active component of the local economy. Since these operations usually require strong buildings, a large amount of power and floors that are suited for heavy use, we design and build taking into account the way the business actually operates.

E-commerce & Fulfilment

The fact that the area is well connected means that it is well suited to e-commerce and fulfilment; the buildings have warehouse floors together with mezzanine pick areas as well as automation and high power requirements; we design the structure and the associated services to meet these needs right from the beginning.

Food & Beverage

Food and drink operations in the area include production and packaging as well as cold storage and distribution; cold storage has particular requirements concerning insulation, the floors and refrigeration, unlike a normal warehouse, and making mistakes in this area is expensive. The buildings are designed with the actual conditions of running a cold or chilled site in mind.

Trade Counter & Self Storage

People who deal in building materials, those who sell electrical goods and plumbing supplies all need warehouse space, room for their trading counters and a yard where loads can be taken on and off. Self storage also does well, a fact due to the area's high population density. We construct new sites as well as convert existing buildings, the principal problems in these cases being subdivision, fire compartmentation and access.
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How we deliver Warehouse Projects

When carrying out a site appraisal we look at the ground, access, any existing buildings, the services available and any other obvious issues, thus ensuring that the work is based on facts; in the case of land that was previously used for industry this involves checking for contamination and old foundations.
As to feasibility, we assess what is realistic in relation to the site, including its size, access, parking, the amount of yard space and how well it matches your budget.
We put together a plan and carry out the application using the correct borough, handling matters related to roads, drainage and the environment.
Detailed design transforms the scheme into a form that can be built by giving it a structure, an envelope, and the necessary services and external works.
The ground work—this involves site preparation, the laying of foundations and drainage—and on brownfield sites it can cover remediation and ground improvement.
The frame is erected, thus determining the shape, the spans and the height.
The roof and cladding are installed so that the building becomes weatherproof.
The fitting out includes the floors, the services, the offices, and the fire protection as well as the racking.
Works carried out outside the premises – including yards, access roads, drainage, parking areas and landscaping.
Handover – The finished building, with all documents and certificates
 

 

Our Construction Capabilities

Everything needed to deliver a warehouse start to finish:
  • Steel frame
  • Reinforced concrete works
  • Groundworks and foundations
  • Cladding
  • Roofing
  • Office fit-out
  • Loading docks and dock levellers
  • Service yards and external works
  • Drainage
  • Mezzanine floors
  • Fire protection
  • Warehouse flooring, including high-spec slabs for racking and equipment loads
Since it is all managed by a single team, we carry out the steps in the correct order and make the changes as we build; this prevents any delays that might result from switching between different contractors.
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Warehouse Refurbishment in the West Midlands

Refurbishment forms a major element of our work, since the West Midlands has one of the largest numbers of old industrial buildings in the country; when the structure is sound but the services, envelope or layout are no longer suitable, refurbishment is generally quicker and less expensive than beginning from scratch.
The project includes the Cat A fit-out, which involves returning the building to a basic ready-to-let standard, and the Cat B fit-out, which involves fitting the building out for a particular tenant. Extensions are usually carried out together with refurbishment, and in cases where the use is changing, such as when switching to heavier racking structural strengthening may be necessary.
It is common to carry out office improvements, as tenants want better facilities for their staff without relocating. Changes to energy efficiency, insulation, glazing, lighting and services are becoming an increasingly common feature of such developments as the regulations imposed by the EPC on commercial buildings become stricter.

Why the West Midlands?

The main reason is connectivity and scale. The region sits at the centre of the country's motorway network; the M6, M5, M42 and M40 all meet here, with the M6 Toll easing congestion and Birmingham Airport serving freight. For distribution, that central position is hard to beat.
There's also the industrial sector. It is the largest industrial market outside London, featuring a substantial manufacturing and automotive economy, along with the associated supply chains. Demand for industrial estates is strong and steady, being caused by both manufactuing and distribution rather than just one of them.
There is a great deal of former industrial land in the area which is once again being put to use, particularly in good and well-connected locations, and there is strong backing for regeneration. Although there is some Green Belt along the edge of the conurbation, inside it the focus is on reusing and redeveloping industrial land rather than on securing greenfield sites. For a business wishing to be at the heart of the country and have a solid industrial base nearby, the West Midlands is one of the most obvious options.

FAQ

How much does Warehouse construction cost?

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The cost of building a warehouse will vary depending on its size, specifications, location and the condition of the ground, so there is no one fixed figure. The best approach for arriving at an accurate figure is to carry out a site visit and have a discussion regarding your requirements.

How long does a Warehouse take to build?

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The time it takes to build a warehouse varies depending on its size, the level of complexity and whether planning is required. As a general idea, a simple new warehouse takes several months from the start of groundworks to completion, including the planning and design work beforehand.

Is planning permission required?

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In most cases, however, certain minor works or changes of use may be covered by permitted development according to the site's history. Since the West Midlands consists of seven boroughs each with its own planning arrangements, the situation will depend on the particular location. We take this into account when carrying out the feasibility and planning stages.

Do you construct Warehouses only?

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By no means. We also build manufacturing plants, trade counter units, self-storage facilities, together withwarehouses and distribution centres.

What ares do you cover in the West Midlands?

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We carry out construction work in the West Midlands, comprising Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Solihull, Dudley, Walsall, Sandwell, West Bromwich, Sutton Coldfield, Halesowen and Stourbridge, as well as the areas surrounding the M6, M5, M42 and M40.

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