McLaren Construction has been appointed by British Land for the development of a multistorey logistics hub in Southwark, London, UK. 

The 140,000ft² facility will be designed to accommodate both industrial and logistics uses. 

British Land development manager Lewis Huntington said: “This multistorey urban logistics scheme is the first of its kind in central London and has market-leading sustainability credentials.” 

The design of the four-storey building will allow for subdivision and multitenancy, providing the flexibility to adapt to evolving trends and environmental considerations.  

It will have five goods lifts, three additional lifts for cycles and cargo bikes, and six passenger lifts. 

The ground floor will be engineered to facilitate access for a range of distribution vehicles, from heavy goods vehicles to cargo bikes. 

McLaren's contractual responsibilities encompass the installation of plant, landscaping, and the creation of access routes, as well as vehicle and cycle parking provisions.  

To ensure versatility for future occupants, approximately 90% of the construction is focused on shell and core with the remaining portion receiving a Category A office fit-out. 

The building's design has achieved a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology Excellent rating, incorporating low-carbon materials and featuring 1,470m² of rooftop photovoltaic panels.  

These are installed above a mix of green with blue roofs, the latter designed to collect water for a grey water recycling system.  

The project is also said to have a biodiversity net gain of 167% for the site, which previously served as a car pound.  

This includes the establishment of an ecological corridor along the boundary with a residential area. 

McLaren managing director for industrial and logistics David Gavin said: “We are seeing a new generation of clever industrial buildings that stack light industrial, warehouse and distribution space to keep a broader range of jobs in urban areas and serve demand for last-mile distribution space.  

“If there’s one thing they have in common, it’s that they maximise their use of tight urban sites, requiring ingenuity and careful planning for the plant and materials we need for construction.” 

Last month, McLaren secured a contract for the development of Centurion Park, an industrial and logistics hub in Colchester, Essex, UK.