The Proposed Development
Encirc is proposing a modern and efficient automated warehouse, in order to ensure product integrity, avoid costly storage off site, broaden Encirc’s logistical offering and keep up with the evolving requirements of its clients. The proposed development consists of a covered despatch building, service yard, pallet storage area, and an automated bridge link between the proposed warehouse and existing facility.
The automated warehouse will be 44m maximum height and feature a high bay and low bay section totalling approximately 23,000 sq.m. The elevation of the warehouse will feature horizontal bands, with lighter colours on the upper part of the building to lessen the building’s visual prominence, and darker tones on the lower parts to ground the building and blend into the vegetative tones of the surrounding landscape. A service yard is proposed alongside the automated warehouse to the east of the proposed structure.
A new road link between the existing site and the warehouse is also proposed, alongside footpath connections into the adjacent car parking area. The development proposals represent part of the continued improvements and investment into Encirc’s operation, providing additional capacity within the facility to allow for necessary updates to the existing warehouse, and ultimately an increase in operational capacity.
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Proposed Site Plan
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Sustainability
There is the opportunity for photovoltaic (PV) panels to be installed on the roof area.
Opportunities will be explored to incorporate low-embodied-carbon construction materials, including recycled steel content and lower-carbon concrete mixes.
Landscaping and biodiversity enhancements will contribute to ecological value and support the wider Encirc sustainability strategy.
The automated warehouse maximises storage density and operational efficiency, reducing the need for additional warehouse floorspace elsewhere.
Modern building fabric and energy-efficient services to the occupied areas will reduce operational energy demand.
Potential for EV charging infrastructure to support the transition to low-emission.
Reduction in HGV mileage through efficient internalised storage and goods handling which will lower fuel consumption, traffic impacts and operational CO₂ emissions throughout the lifetime of the facility.
The facility will operate as an ambient warehouse and therefore avoids the substantial energy demands associated with chilled or temperature-controlled storage.
Energy-efficient LED lighting.
Surface water management and sustainable drainage measures (SuDs) to improve climate resilience and reduce flood risk.
Centralised storage operations to maintain product quality, improve supply chain efficiency and reduce the carbon intensity of warehousing operations.
The development is capable of supporting future electrification of warehouse equipment and vehicle fleets as technology advances.
Technical Considerations
The application will be supported by a series of technical assessments to demonstrate the suitability of the proposed development.
Highways and Transport
Access to the proposed warehouse will make use of the existing road within Encirc’s facility, which is currently used by both HGVs and cars.
A service yard is proposed to the east of the warehouse, with HGVs accessing from the north and exiting to the south before turning back onto the existing road.
The number of daily HGV movements at Encirc is currently controlled by way of a restrictive condition of the site’s permission, and the automated warehouse will not alter the number of movements permitted once the warehouse is fully operational.
Once operational, the warehouse will be fully automated with only a small number of engineers required onsite, most of which will be existing members of staff. As such, no additional car parking is proposed, and the development will not result in a material increase in additional staff trips to the site.
