Property solution specialists Simons are to build ten new Tesco stores across the UK with the groups £75m acquisition to develop over 375,000 sq ft of prime retail space. The leading supermarket retailer is to develop 2.5 million sq ft in the UK this year alone; Simons has been chosen to develop over 375,000 sq ft of this with their revolutionary construction methods. With Simons on board Tescos are to lead the way with innovative and sustainable eco friendly stores.
Simons, a £200m-a-year turnover company, will work alongside the supermarket chain to plan and deliver a number of projects over the next few years, including, not only new build stores but store extensions, fit-out and distribution. With tills at Tesco currently taking one in every £3 spent in British shops the deal was undoubtedly competitive. Simons were chosen by Tesco for their unique approach to partnerships, with their lean, efficient and collaborative approach to delivery, ensuring cost and time certainty, high quality design and continuous improvement.
Tesco has made great progress in their aim to become a zero-carbon business with the launch of its first zero carbon store in Ramsey, Cambridgeshire which opened in February. With Simons on board Tesco are confident that they will reach their goal to be a carbon neutral company by 2050.
Simons successfully developed the Tesco 550,000 sq ft distribution centre in Bristol that opened on time in February and was rated a grade A in energy performance, exceeding the benchmark of similar existing and new-build facilities. The distribution centre is the third new-build Simons completed for Tesco; the first traditional store and petrol station was in Litherland, Liverpool and the second a new-format eco-store in Crediton, Devon, making them the preferred choice for the future ten Tesco stores throughout the UK with plans to expand over seas.
Hornsby in Sheffield, Bishop Auckland in the North East, Helson in the South West and even as far a field as Llandrindod Wells in Wales, are the latest deals Simons has made to work alongside Tesco. Paul Davis, Simons Account Director comments; “It is fantastic that we have been chosen to work alongside the biggest retailer in the UK. Our passion for sustainable methods and approach to engaging with the local community has enabled Simons to be the preferred choice to work toward there zero carbon mission.”
Tesco Eco Champion, James Dorling comments: “With the success of the store in Cambridgeshire our prominence in the UK as a leading retailer, it is important we lead by example and show our commitment to the environment by rolling out eco friendly stores all across the UK. Alongside Simons we are committed in making our goal to have only low-carbon stores, a reality.”
The environmentally friendly methods that Simons will be implementing on the eco Tescos developments include rainwater harvesting and the use of wind catchers positioned on the roof to maximise the use of natural ventilation to cool the premises rather than being reliant on an air conditioning system. Significantly, each of the stores will be built with wood frames using timber from sustainable forests instead of metal, as for every cubic metre of steel that is replaced with timber will save almost a tonne of carbon because it is less energy-intensive to produce.
Simons are to incorporate a new lighting system where natural light is fed in by rooflights, high level windows, and sun pipes optimising and increasing natural daylight. Each development integrates lots of natural light, meaning less artificial lighting and significantly reducing electricity.
There really was no holds barred when tackling carbon emissions as each new store template have been designed with a more energy-efficient heating and air-conditioning system, as well as a natural refrigeration system which uses naturally occurring carbon dioxide emissions to cool fridges rather than traditional fridge gases. The refrigeration systems are cooled with carbon dioxide, which is thousands of times less damaging to the climate than traditional refrigeration gases.
Simons are always at the forefront when tackling difficult issues concerning methods of construction. Displaying true commitment to the economic ethos of the property group eco friendly portacabins are used on all sites. These state of the art portacbins include passive Infra Red (PIR) office lighting to avoid unnecessary use of electricity when the portacabin is not in use, timers to space heaters to avoid unnecessary use of electricity, external door closers to retain heat and solar window film to avoid sun permeating your portable cabin and to avoid use of electric powered air conditioning.
As well as unique construction methods Simons and Tesco are committed to reducing energy and water consumption within the new stores. A metering system is to be built into the stores to keep a close eye on how much energy and water the stores use. Enabling Tesco to stand out from the crowd the stores are also committed to generating their own energy with combined Cooling, Heat and Power (CHP) plants which will generate the stores own electricity.
Simons received national recognition for the considerate construction of one of the new stores in Litherland. Members of the team were presented with a Considerate Constructors Scheme Silver Award and the site was commended for high standards of safety, environmental awareness, considerate working, cleanliness and respect, and recognised for exceptional achievement in responsibility and accountability.
