GMI Construction Group, an expanding building and construction services company, has been appointed on a significant new project, constructing the 126,279 sq ft Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing (CESAM) at The International Manufacturing Park (IAMP) development in Sunderland in the North East.
The IAMP is being delivered in a joint venture between Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside Council, with Henry Boot Developments (HBD) as delivery partner. The first phase, IAMP ONE, covers 125 acres and will provide 1.6m sq ft of advanced manufacturing and industrial space.
The £12m CESAM facility will ensure that manufacturers across the region and beyond have access to cutting-edge open innovation, adoption and knowledge transfer, providing a catalyst for sustainable productivity improvement.
Occupying a prominent plot within the scheme, covering 10.6 acres, the building will comprise office space, a production facility and yard, along with 300 car parking spaces.
Speaking about the development Lee Powell, GMI Divisional Managing Director, said: “GMI are absolutely delighted to have been instructed on this game-changing north east development by our trusted client, Henry Boot Developments.
In recent years, we have received numerous instructions to build automotive and manufacturing developments, which this project is a further example of. We look forward to working with Henry Boot Developments and CESAM on this exciting project, and to play a role in bringing forward the pioneering IAMP scheme.”
Tom Wheldon, Regional Manager at Henry Boot, said: “IAMP offers a unique opportunity for advanced manufacturing businesses to supercharge their growth targets, and will no doubt prove the perfect location for CESAM’s manufacturing and teaching facility.
“IAMP is a game-changing scheme for the North East – with its port connections, strong local skills base, significant power capacity and connectivity, there is no better location for companies in the automotive and advanced manufacturing industries. It will bring significant investment and employment returns into the area and we’ve been very encouraged by conversations taking place with prospective occupiers.”
Councillor Graeme Miller, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “In the face of ongoing uncertainty created by Brexit, as well global challenges facing the automotive sector, we are working as hard as we possibly can to ensure IAMP continues to attract investment, and the CESAM building will bolster IAMP as the place of choice for industry for all kinds of manufacturers – including automotive.
“This is an ambitious development and one that is gathering momentum. Our ambition for IAMP is to diversify our economy and create many thousands of jobs for decades to come. The strong pipeline of interest we have gained from a broad range of manufacturing industries backs that up.”
Councillor Iain Malcom, Leader of South Tyneside Council, added: “We have seen SNOP‘s factory rise from the ground, and in very short succession, two applications are progressing for IAMP, which is a huge coup for this scheme.
“More than that though, CESAM represents a facility that will transform the region’s capabilities when it comes to innovation, and that will make the North East an even more exciting proposition to investors.”
He added: “Despite market uncertainty, the momentum we are seeing, and the interest in this site absolutely demonstrates that the North East is open for business and a hugely attractive place to invest.”The full project team on the development includes Architect – CMPG Architects Structural Engineer – WYG – and Quantity Surveyor: Rex Procter & Partners
