Final plot at Optimus Point distribution park in Leicester reaches completion

Stephen George + Partners (SGP) is delighted to announce the completion of a new 95,000 sqft warehouse / industrial unit on the last plot at Hamdon Gate Developments’ Optimus Point, Glenfield, Leicester. In addition to the pre-let unit, the 5.3 acre site contains an administrative office and welfare facilities, new access, associated parking and servicing, with retaining walls and complementary landscaping.

Explains Satnam Flora, Associate at SGP: “SGP has been involved with masterplanning the entire Optimus Point development, so it is fantastic to have reached completion on the final plot of this popular and well-connected distribution park.”

SGP’s design follows the previously established Design Code, with profiled and flat panel built up wall and roof cladding, plastisol coated steel sectional overhead doors, polyester powder coated aluminium windows and entrance doors. The elevations are articulated with a choice of cladding orientation and neutral colours. The unit has an internal clear height of 12m and its visual height has been reduced using a shallow curved roofline and carefully considered placement of different coloured banding, particularly on the side facing the adjacent residential development.

Continues Satnam: “The site levels between Plot 20 and the existing development required careful engineering to find the optimum solutions. We created gabion basket retaining walls and banks around the north and east boundaries where a previously consented greenway acts as a landscape buffer between the residential and employment plots.”

The scheme’s overall layout enhances the significant net biodiversity benefits, which included the provision of two wide corridors of green infrastructure through the site, incorporating a wet ditch, hedgerows, scrub and adjacent grassland habitats.

Optimus Point is one of the best located warehouse, distribution and industrial schemes in the UK, situated next to Junction 21a of the M1 motorway and the A46 dual carriageway. The 26.3-hectare (65-acre) site has already attracted a range of local, national and international companies including DPD, Geodis, Sarstedt, Mattel and Everards and offers design and build packages.

Achieved BREEAM Excellent through the fabric first and onsite renewables approach for the base build.

Geary’s Bakery, the occupiers, already operated an existing unit on the site. Originally intended as a speculative unit, this additional space was leased by Geary’s Bakery to facilitate their business expansion and enhance their manufacturing and distribution capabilities. SGP subsequently modified the speculative unit to meet Geary’s specific fit-out needs.

The project has been supported by the Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership through the Growing Places Fund.