DB Schenker Logistics holds ground-breaking ceremony at new LHR facility

Senior executives from DB Schenker Logistics gathered recently at the site of the company’s new UK headquarters building for a ground breaking ceremony.  Donning hard hats and grasping commemorative spades, Per Holst-Nielsen, Acting Managing Director of Schenker Limited (the company’s UK arm) was joined by former MD Jochen Müller (now Board Member Schenker Deutschland AG), CEO Schenker North AB, Ingvar Nilsson and incoming Managing Director, Helgi Ingolfsson who takes up his role in February 2012.

They joined a team from SEGRO, Europe’s leading developer and owner of industrial space, to mark the start of construction on the new 9,900 square metre facility adjacent to the main cargo terminal at Heathrow airport.  Scheduled for competition in mid-2012 the new building represents the largest pre-let agreement signed at Heathrow for five years and will comprise a bespoke office and warehouse facility for which Schenker Limited has signed a 15 year lease.  With a targeted BREEAM rating of Very Good  (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) the building is designed to achieve 25% lower CO2 emissions than the standard and also features low and zero carbon air source heat pumps which will service both office comfort cooling and warehouse under-floor heating.  There will also be rainwater harvesting, a heat recovery ventilation system and both PIR (passive infrared) and photoelectric lighting controls.  In addition more than 95% of the concrete on the Portal site will be recycled.

"This is an exciting development for us at DB Schenker in the UK," says Per Holst-Nielsen. "The move to this new facility will be a great stride forward for our whole Heathrow team and I believe it inspires confidence about the future growth of the UK operation.  We will be working in a building which has been designed to meet our needs both now and in the future and in an ergonomically sustainable way which will ensure maximum productivity at all times".

Adds SEGRO’s Joint Ventures Director, Alan Holland: "The high cargo volumes handled at Heathrow during 2011 have contributed to good demand for well-located space on and around the airport, particularly for site and properties that can offer immediate air-side access.  In total we have concluded 26 new lettings at our existing Heathrow properties in 2011 and look forward to welcoming Schenker Limited to this new facility in 2012".

Quelle: DB Schenker