Pochin wins new Tata HQ

Pochin Developments has been appointed to build Tata Chemicals Europe's UK headquarters office building in Northwich.

Pochin has already secured development funding from the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to finance the 18,000 sq ft building at Tata's Winnington complex, which will be subject to a 25-year lease.

Work is expected to start on site at the junction of Winnington Lane in the next few weeks.

Bob Nicholson, head of property development at Pochin Developments, said: "Our experienced project team has engaged extensively with the Tata Chemicals project team and all stakeholders to ensure that the design and ultimately the completed building, is of the highest quality, sustainable and energy efficient.

"The design incorporates several innovative principles including space heating provided by the waste heat steam from the adjacent manufacturing facilities and a drainage system which uses permeable surfaces and rainwater harvesting to remove surface water run off."

Martin Ashcroft, managing director of Tata Chemicals Europe, said: "I am delighted that we can now proceed to create a new head office in Winnington as a sign of our continued commitment to centring our business in Middlewich and Northwich.

"This is an exciting time for our business; having recently acquired British Salt and re-branded as Tata Chemicals Europe. Now we will have a new office built to the latest environmental standards as well as developing a project demonstrating the use of zero carbon heating via process waste heat which forms an important part of our wider carbon emission reduction plans."

Stephen Isaacs, RBS relationship director, said: "This is a prestigious development and once complete it will provide Tata's employees with an office environment of the highest standard. We are very happy to provide Pochin's with the financial support they need to undertake this project."

The Pochin construction group is based at Middlewich, Cheshire.