Lindum has started work on two new industrial buildings at Network 46 in Swinderby, near Lincoln.

Construction teams have broken ground on the seven-month building project for developer and regeneration expert, St. Modwen.

The development off the A46 will create more than 95,000 sq ft of warehouse and manufacturing accommodation within one of the region’s main strategic employment locations.

Rob Richardson, Senior Development Manager at St. Modwen, said: “Our decision to commence construction was driven by our strategy of increasing our industrial development programme across our portfolio, but reinforced by the very encouraging levels of interest we have had in Network 46 since we acquired the land in late 2016. 

“Today marks a major step forward in our development of the site and the delivery of much needed employment space in the region.”

St. Modwen owns more than 30 acres of industrial land in Lincoln, including Firth Road and Ruston Works, and previously delivered the 135,000 sq ft state-of-the-art facility for Siemens at Teal Park in 2012.

Planning consent had originally been granted for more than 960,000 sq ft of commercial space on the 70-acre Business Park, part of which has been developed with occupiers including Apogee, Turbine Efficiency UK Mail and DPDUK.

Simon Gregory, MD of Lindum Construction, said: “We are very pleased to be embarking on this scheme for St. Modwen, a company with which we have established a strong working relationship.

“These units follow on from similar developments at Parkside in Doncaster, where we have delivered high quality, industrial premises which have supported employment growth and stimulated economic investment.

“The Network 46 development is just a few miles from our office in North Hykeham and as a local construction company, we are very happy to be part of a development which is breathing new life into a section of the old Swinderby airbase.”

Building work is scheduled for completion in February 2019.

Councillor Richard Wright, Leader of North Kesteven District Council, said: “We welcome this investment in the District and are pleased that St. Modwen has seen the area’s potential by bringing this development forward.

“North Kesteven is a fantastic place for all types of businesses – from large companies to smaller enterprises.

“Once the construction has been completed, this site will not only boost the local economy but will also enable jobs to be created, something we as a Council are keen to encourage and support.”

Lincoln-based Banks Long is marketing the scheme with Cushman and Wakefield.

William Wall of Banks Long commented: “We invested time to ensure these two buildings of 31,905 sq ft and 63,655 sq ft are designed to suit the needs of the modern industrial occupier and they will appeal to both the logistics and manufacturing sectors. The availability of good power and quick access on the A46 and wider road network is also of significance to these sectors when looking at their options for growth or inward investment.”

Simon Lloyd of joint agents Cushman and Wakefield added: “This part of the region has not seen development of these sizes of unit for quite some time so the level of interest we are already receiving is very encouraging.”