Tate Consulting’s role in building Asda’s £50m green distribution centre

The Harrogate-based company has been involved in the development of a £50m Asda chilled and frozen distribution centre in Bristol.

In common with its predecessors in Rochdale and Grangemouth, the Bristol scheme has strong ‘green’ credentials, thanks to the skill of the Yorkshire-based team.

When completed, the Bristol scheme will have the capacity to pack around three million cases per week, and it will service 123 stores.

Tate Consulting worked closely with Asda to deliver energy and sustainability services, as well as providing building services engineering, infrastructure and fire engineering services for the project.

Energy saving design features include a ‘single skin’ construction freezer and cold store faci-lity.

Rainwater is stored and used to serve the refrigeration plant and toilets, reducing annual water consumption by 30 per cent. The site also benefits from a combined heating and power system which produces hot water and electricity.

Tate Consulting has worked with Leeds-based Asda for more than a decade.

It advises the supermarket giant on how to meet its target to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2015, as well as delivering consulting engineering services.

Shane Tate, the founder partner of Tate Consulting, said yesterday: “These distribution centres are among the world’s most energy efficient buildings, creating a new benchmark for the construction industry and the environment.

“Our core consulting engineering services focus on maximising value and minimising the environmental impact, creating change that will lead to value for our customers.

“It’s our mission to make new and existing buildings as simple and as energy efficient as possible. we’re proud to be helping Asda – with over two million employees – achieve one of the world’s most carbon efficient buildings.

“There can be few consultancies of our size delivering on such a scale and pace.”

Tate’s other clients include B&M Stores and Tesco Pension Fund.