McPhillips was the principal contractor for the delivery of a drive-thru Costa Coffee on the outskirts of Ludlow.
The project is located alongside a Sainsbury’s supermarket at Rocks Green, also delivered by McPhillips four years ago.
Taking just six months to complete, the 1,800sqft project features parking for 30 cars including four EV charging points, acoustic screening and the installation of an attenuation tank to manage rainwater.
Challenges
The key challenge faced during the project was one of logistics, due to the constraints of limited space on a small site.
- Major logistical constraint: No spare land available for compound setup, parking, or welfare facilities due to small site footprint
- Strategic sequencing required for deliveries and construction phases to minimise site disruption, with careful planning of task order and timing.
- Attenuation tank installation: Large underground storm water management system using plastic crate-like structures beneath car park to control water flow and prevent flooding – required completion before steel erection due to crane access needs
- Sustainable drainage integration: Specialised planters work alongside attenuation crates to meet planning criteria for storm water management and flood reduction
Solutions
- Strategic planning: The team developed a detailed plan to manage the limited space effectively. This involved scheduling deliveries and construction activities in a logical order to minimise disruption on-site.
- Use of a compound: Although there was no spare land for a traditional compound, the team set up a small compound at the end of the site to facilitate operations and manage materials.
- Prioritisation of key tasks: The team identified the most disruptive tasks and prioritised them early in the project. This included the installation of the attenuation tank beneath what would be the car park so needed to be completed before all other construction activities could proceed.
- Collaboration with suppliers: By coordinating closely with local suppliers for materials, such as stone and concrete, the team ensured timely deliveries and minimised transportation issues.
Site manager Mike Robinson said: “This project was a testament to our careful planning and coordination, as we navigated significant logistical challenges on a small site.
“The limited space required us to think critically about the order of operations, ensuring that we completed the most disruptive tasks early on. By collaborating closely with a local supply chain, we were able to source materials such as stone and concrete from nearby suppliers, which not only facilitated timely deliveries but also supported the local economy.
“This approach allowed us to maintain our schedule while adhering to the client’s specifications, ultimately delivering a successful project on time and within budget.”
Testimonial
Mark Bennett, agent for the client, said: “We were happy with McPhillips’ co-operative approach and ‘Can Do’ mentality when constructing the Sainsburys project, so it was natural to work in partnership with McPhillips again on the adjacent site for the Costa Drive Thru.
“The Costa development was a tight site, but McPhillips managed to deliver a good quality scheme the both the Developer and Tenant are pleased with, on time and on budget.
“I hope to have the opportunity to work with McPhillips on other future schemes.”