Stiller Warehousing and Distribution, based on Aycliffe Business Park, is in the process of constructing a new 40,000 sq ft warehouse for its rapidly expanding list of customers.
The latest development, standing at 10 metres tall, will store another 6,000 pallets for the family-run firm.
The structure is an extension to an existing 40,000 sq ft warehouse, which opened in September 2015, and further increases Stiller’s warehousing capabilities across its 20 acres of land at the heart of Aycliffe Business Park.
And the project is supporting dozens of local jobs in its construction.
Project managed by Darlington-based ADG Architects with civil engineering support from Durham-based BDN, its main contractor is Hall Construction, based at nearby Rushyford, which awarded Aycliffe-based SCH a project to fabricate and erect its frame using 90 tonnes of steel.
SCH, which has previously worked with Hall Construction on the refurbishment of buildings at PD Ports on Teesside, completed the steel fabrication and erection of the frame within eight weeks, and the warehouse is expected to be fully completed in the New Year.
SCH managing director Gary Finley said: “We’re delighted to have worked on a project so close to us in Newton Aycliffe which is supporting several local employers.
“We fabricated the steel in-house at our facility just around the corner from Stiller’s site and erected it on site.
“The extension had to join an existing warehouse which made it a little more complex than a stand-alone shed and we also had to design the end connections for the structure, but we’re pleased we’ve been able to work with one of our neighbours in enabling their ambitious plans for future growth.”
The new warehouse will take Stiller’s recent investments in equipment, people and property to more than £6.4m in the last three years.
The firm has invested heavily in a fleet of new trailers and spent £1.1m on a new warehouse which increased its warehousing capacity by nearly 50%, while further cash was ploughed into two new external storage areas, totalling 32,000 sq ft, earlier this year.
Commercial manager Matthew Stiller said: “Nearly all of our space is allocated to clients at the moment, which is a great position to be in.
“This latest development is a speculative build, but we’re confident there’ll be fairly high demand for the space, and we very much like working with local companies.
“SCH have done an exceptional job. There’s been no hold up, despite a bit of bad weather, so we’re very happy with the work they’ve done.”
As well as the Stiller project, SCH is currently working on the Cello factory extension in Bishop Auckland for Wharton Construction, the refurbishment of an existing structure in Barrow-in-Furness for MGL, roof structure strengthening work at Nissan in Washington for Sir Robert McAlpine and the Belvedere retail pods at Kingston Park in Newcastle for Brims Construction.
With pic: SCH Site Services managing director Gary Finley (right) with Stiller Warehousing and Distribution commercial manager Matthew Stiller on the site of Stiller’s new 40,000 sq ft warehouse.