Tilbury

Michael Sparks Associates were commissioned to design and build the largest distribution centre in Tilbury and first of its kind. The building will serve as a sortation and distribution centre for a major retailer. The brief has been carefully compiled to ensure that the proposed development accommodates a considerable number of internal business operations in the processing, storage and retrieval of goods through a multi storey warehouse, which involves an extensive range of complex handling equipment as well as a considerable number of staff. These operations will also affect the external arrangements at the loading interface and across the site, as well as vehicle management.

The concept which forms the basis of the application is formed by the following key components:

a rectangular process area 370.9 metres (m) long by 137.3 metres wide. These are key dimensions for the occupier. This area consists of four main floors with a small mezzanine at first floor level, giving an overall building height 21.65 metres although individual plant rooms will extend above the roof ridge to a height of 23.3 metres. The total floor area of this is 2.2 million ft²

the ground floor forming the main process area for incoming and outgoing goods, which are distributed to and from the upper floors that are used for storage;

the loading face, which accommodates 61 loading doors and will be linked to service area extending the whole length of the building. This also contains ancillary areas such as sprinkler tanks, gatehouses, drivers’ toilets etc.

September 2016 – September 2017

204,820 sq m (2,204,680 sq ft)

Architect

Very Good