Back to News

Designing the latest phase of Symmetry Park, Biggleswade

26th Mar 2024

Our engineering teams have supported Tritax Symmetry in securing detailed planning permission for the third phase of Symmetry Park, Biggleswade. It extends our role across every phase to date of this significant logistics and distribution hub.

Central Bedfordshire Council has approved plans for three new, state-of-the-art logistics buildings to be developed totalling 927,000 sq ft. The first two phases offer a total of 1.24m sq ft and are fully occupied by The Co-op, Bidfood, Bowman Ingredients, Noatum and Bond International.

Our civil, structural, geo-environmental and geo-technical engineering teams have played a key role in shaping the ground conditions and structural solutions for Phase 3, continuing a role played across Phases 1 and 2. All three new facilities will be built to net zero carbon in construction and will target a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.

Commenting on the latest phase of this 150-acre distribution park, Tom Leeming, Director at Tritax Symmetry, said:

“We have successfully developed this site into a highly sustainable distribution park for local, regional and international businesses. In addition, we've worked together with the local community and provided considerable funds resulting directly from the development for the exciting Kitelands Recreation Garden improvement project which provides a new play area for children. We’re looking forward to delivering the next phase of Symmetry Park and attracting further high-quality jobs and economic growth to the town.”

Hydrock's geo-environmental and geo-technical teams have worked across each phase of Symmetry Park. For Phase 3, they have delivered the materials management plan, remediation strategy and earthworks specification.

Our work has also included a soil management plan. Land quality director, Paul Eastwood explains the significance:

“A soil management plan ensures that agriculturally significant soils can be retained for future generations for farming purposes. In the case of Phase 3 of Symmetry Park, a really positive aspect of the sustainable development of this site is the decision to move and store the top soil in the landscaping bunds so this valuable soil can be sourced for agricultural purposes and reused in the long-term future.”

Vikki Klette, technical director in Hydrock's civil and structural engineering team is helping Tritax achieve their objective of a net zero carbon-in construction build:

“Our design ethos includes embedded carbon calculations as we design the spaces, assessing the carbon impacts in the foundation design, and the approaches to drainage attenuation across the site and overall landscaping. It's about combining solutions to create the best overall outcome.”

Located off the A1, Symmetry Park is now a major logistics park for Tritax Symmetry, the logistics development arm of Tritax Big Box REIT.

Hydrock has been involved in the development of the park from the outset which began with a 661,000 sq ft BREEAM Excellent facility developed solely for The Co-operative Group as its Regional Distribution Centre. We also delivered the base build for all four speculative units for Phase 2, and latterly assisted by reviewing the alterations made by the tenants during the base build construction, with all four units now occupied.