London is Europe’s largest consumer market, with a dense population, high demand for goods, very expensive real estate and intense pressure for space – all reasons why mezzanines are invaluable for logistics and retail operators.
Two factors are at play: competition for land for both housing and business, and the concentration of an urban population with higher incomes who make convenience and speedy delivery their priority.
Mezzanines are key to making the most of scarce urban space, both when companies move into new premises and when they expand their operations. Single or multi-tier mezzanines provide crucial capacity for last-mile and urban logistics.
Responsive and agile
Hi-Level Mezzanines are the London mezzanine experts, finalists in the London Construction Awards 2023 – where we were shortlisted for Specialist Contractor of the Year– and a supplier to trust for London projects. Located close to M25, we are responsive and agile, with an in-house design studio and team of qualified structural engineers.
Pressure for space in the capital is undeniable. The population of London rose to 9 million in 2019, and 13% of the UK’s people are crowded into less than 1% of its landmass. Industrial land is being released to other uses, such as housing and retail. Where it does still exist it mainly consists of warehouses, according to the UK Warehouse Association, but “demand is still far outstripping supply.” New light industrial and urban logistics space is being created, but not fast enough to keep pace with requirements.
Smart-thinking businesses are therefore future-proofing capacity by installing mezzanines when they move in. Mezzanines are also an excellent way to make full use of vertical space and so avoid the costs and bother of finding new premises.
The attractions of London are clear.
Two major airports and the Port of London serve the city. In 2022 Heathrow handled 1.4 million tonnes of cargo (the most in the UK) while Gatwick registers 150,000 tonnes at present with plans to increase to 350,000 tonnes by 2047. At the Port of London, the UK’s largest port by volume of goods handled, around 50 million tonnes of cargo are handled every year.
New development
Just three examples of new development are:
- Mars and DHL have opened a new warehouse at London Thames Gateway in east London in a joint partnership to serve the distribution of Mars products from confectionary to pet nutrition. Along with a companion warehouse in the East Midlands, the £350 million strategy will reduce current Mars transport on UK roads by one million miles annually. At the same time, Mars has increased its warehouse capacity by more than 50%. The Thames Gateway site meets “outstanding” sustainability specifications and is part of Mars’s ambition to create a “world-class logistics operation that is sustainable, smart and agile.”
- GLi is building a portfolio of urban logistics hubs in and around the capital, the latest at Park Royal in west London, where there are good road, rail and canal links. The others are in Mitcham, Enfield and Croydon. The new hub will be 100% electric powered with sustainability features including rainwater harvesting, biodiverse landscaping and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The developers say: “In order to meet the challenges posed by rapid urbanisation and the demands to decarbonize we must deliver logistics assets that truly play sustainability at their heart.” The site is described as “a fantastic location so close to central London.”
- Panattoni is creating ‘ultra-urban’ warehouses near Heathrow in a last-mile logistics development, close to the M25 with immediate access to the airport’s cargo terminal.
Repurposing office space is another trend, as organisations adapt to hybrid working and/or a return to the office. Mezzanines can help businesses adjust to new requirements, providing the space needed to change around the way staff work, add to the surface area for desks, set aside a location for printers, IT hardware and files, and make sure there is room to meet and eat.
Focus on the M25 East region
The M25 East region is a good example of the opportunities mezzanines offer. Demand for good-quality space is up but there are only a handful of 250,000 ft2 warehouses immediately available, with nothing bigger than 400,000 ft2.Mezzanines can fill the gap, allowing business to double or triple their capacity.
Prospects in the region are buoyed by the large population, with London and the South East expected to see the strongest growth in the UK. New homes will need to be supplied by logistics facilities and the M25 East region offers space for big sheds, national distribution centres and smaller sites. The region will be “a cornerstone in meeting demand for logistics space to service the capital and its sprawling suburbs” into the future, according to Logistics Manager. Mezzanines allow companies to maximise use of their space.
Stunning mezzanine projects in London
In Brent Hi-Level Mezzanines created a stunning mezzanine for Granger Hertzog, an impressive furniture and prop hire service where clients in the film industry are able to browse the wide collection of eclectic pieces from around the world. We created both a showroom for the company’s vast catalogue of products, room for clients to work alongside the Granger Hertzog team, and space for the logistics operation. In the words of the client, the project is “a testament to Hi-Level’s great workmanship.”
For Celtic Bakers in Haringey, Hi-Level Mezzanines designed, supplied and installed two individual mezzanine floors. Celtic Bakers is a wholesale bakery specialising in hand-crafted breads, cakes and patisseries, and the mezzanines provide both storage and space for staff to change in and out of their uniforms. Our work included a bio-degradable food-safe ceiling tile suitable for a bakery, as well as fire protection and additional staircasing. The bakery’s project manager was delighted at the result: “Very, very impressed with the mezzanine, the quality and feel is excellent. Thank you Hi-Level and the team for your patience”.
More examples of new storage areas, staircases and edge protection are here and here.
Read our blogs on the East of England, Magna Park, the North West and the Golden Triangle.
If you are considering installing a mezzanine and would like more information, contact us today at [email protected] or call 01730 237 190 .
