Be First, the regeneration arm of The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, has recently completed Industria an innovative multi-storey ramped industrial/warehouse scheme. The Scheme Architects are Haworth Tompkins.
The scheme provides space for multiple businesses to support local businesses and particularly support the growth of SME activity.
Industria comprises over 10,000 sq.m. of industrial floorspace in two connected buildings, one of three and one of four floors. The buildings contain a total of 45 industrial units, arranged around three levels of loading bays and service yards. Workspaces inside range from 20 to 450 sq.m.
Amenities are also included, a café, breakout spaces and cycle facilities in addition to visual features, such as green walls, which provide improved street frontage, shading, privacy and visual interest.
The development is not targeted at any specific economic sector, but it recognised that it is well suited to support the growth of film and food-based businesses – two key growth sectors in the borough.
The Greater London Authority has updated the London Plan to encourage ‘industrial intensification to maximise use of Industrial sites in the city. Industria is one of the first sites to respond to this new planning guidance.
Intensification of Industrial sites could be a way of providing industrial space in Guildford that reduces pressure on land requirements. However the required infrastructure is also required to make these types fo development viable.
Images courtesy Haworth Tompkins
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