ABP Vancouver Timber Storage Building

Name: Britcon
Telephone: +44

Form of Contract

JCT Design & Build
Client

Associated British Ports
Project Manager

Robert Page
Principal Partners & Engineers

Eastwood and Partners
Programme

26 Weeks
Completion

October 2021

Works Scope

At the port of Kings Lynn, our client had an issue where they needed to increase their timber storage capacity - due to market supply and importation increases, to keep Britain trading.

The new Dutch Barn undercover storage facility was constructed adjacent to the harbour and consisted of piled foundations, steel frame and cladded envelope, deep drainage connections, incoming services, external works and a small office and welfare facility. Alongside the construction of the new building, Britcon protected a listed timber constructed warehouse whilst maintaining busy port activities.

Appointed as Principal Contractor, this project utilised all three Britcon services – Civils, Build and Steel. Operating as Principal Contractor, we had to mitigate the risk of damaging a key underground drainage culvert that ran through the construction footprint of the new building, which was controlled by our team to great success.

Key Project Challenges

Underground drainage culvert.
Mitigating the risk of damage.
Live Port working and site rules compliance.
Critical programme timetable for the end user.
Surrounding buildings and temporary building retention works.
Ground obstructions and existing services.
Reducing carbon and energy costs.

How we successfully delivered the project

We worked in partnership with Associated British Ports, employing our ‘Britcon Way’ principles and using collaborative planning techniques to deliver this project safely, ahead of programme and on budget. We undertook early survey works to identify existing site services and developed an innovative piling technique to minimise our impact.

We used digital technologies and BIM to produce detailed site logistic plans. We produced detailed RAMS and a programme to minimise our impact on site to support movement of port traffic during the pandemic. The use of digital tools supported faster decision making and our common data environment ensured all documents and sign offs had full audit trails.

A community investment plan, provided targets and a clear focus.
Carbon reduction plans helped to reduce the client’s impact.
The use of digital tools supported collaboration, and the use of Microsoft Teams and new working methods supported safe Covid-19 working.