The consolidation of multiple sites into a new, purpose-built facility coupled with good access to road networks, formed the brief for the delivery of Arnold Laver’s National Production Centre, the largest employment development carried out in Sheffield for more than 20 years.

25,000sq.ft was required to accommodate timber roof truss manufacture, timber tanalising treatments, sheet materials, timber storage, as well as office functions and a Call & Collect Builders’ Merchants.

On behalf of Arnold Laver, Bolsterstone undertook an extensive site search which culminated in the identification of a 16-acre former sewerage treatment plant, formerly known as Holbrook Treatment Works and owned by Yorkshire Water.

Bolsterstone led negotiations in respect of the site purchase from Yorkshire Water and also the discussions with the Environmental Agency, regarding the decommissioning of the sewerage treatments works.

The site was complex and early detailed discussions were held with Sheffield City Council regarding the planning principles.

The sloping nature of the site meant that the eventual solution comprised five separate buildings, sited on plateaus created by earthworks remodelling.

Innovation was combined with cost efficiency in the design through the retention of the former treatment tanks on the site for use as underground rainwater storage, which is now used for the timber tanalising process, a function that consumes 6,000 gallons of water per week.

Further innovation included the creation of a boiler plant which consumes waste timber to create energy which is then used to heat the buildings on the site via a network of underground pipes. This system has a capacity to burn approximately 100 tonnes of timber waste per week, which is recycled as fuel and removes the need for waste to go to landfill.

Upon receipt of planning consent for the scheme, Bolsterstone procured the building contract for delivery of the scheme and then project managed the development through to completion.

A key part of the project management process was ensuring that as little production/custom as possible was lost, during the incorporation of from existing sites and various operations in to the new single site.

Since its relocation, the single site facility has traded successfully and is still occupied to this day.