JFC Kenwick – Food-Grade Warehouse, Freezer & Cold Storage Facility

Scope of Works

Shelford Constructions delivered an integrated warehouse, cold-storage and logistics facility incorporating:

• Approximately 5,250m² warehouse
• 1,500m² of -22°C food-grade freezer storage
• 300m² chilled and humidity-controlled storage
• Additional temperature-controlled areas
• Biosecurity quarantine storage
• Office and mezzanine accommodation
• 300m² single-storey office
• Approximately 8,000m² external hardstand
• Container-rated hardstand
• Three recessed loading docks
• Three dock levellers
• Covered on-grade unloading
• Dedicated forklift charging
• 35-bay light-vehicle car park
• Landscaping and associated external works

Key Features

Food-Grade Freezer Storage

A major component of the facility is approximately 1,500m² of food-grade freezer storage operating at -22°C.

The specialist freezer environment incorporates freezer-grade fixtures and fittings, insulated rapid roller doors and a dry-drop active fire-suppression system designed around the low-temperature environment.

Dedicated cold-store biosecurity quarantine storage provides additional controlled space within the freezer facility.

Chilled & Humidity-Controlled Storage

Approximately 300m² of chilled and humidity-controlled storage provides additional specialist temperature-controlled capacity.

Together with the freezer areas, these facilities allow different products to be maintained under specific environmental conditions within the broader warehouse.

Loading & Logistics Infrastructure

The facility incorporates three recessed loading docks with dock levellers, supporting efficient movement of goods between the warehouse and transport vehicles.

A 10-metre cantilevered, sprinkler-protected canopy provides fully covered on-grade unloading.

Approximately 8,000m² of external hardstand supports broader logistics operations, with around half of this area engineered as container hardstand.

Biosecurity Infrastructure

Dedicated biosecurity quarantine areas were incorporated within the development to support the tenant's operational requirements.

These include both cold-store quarantine capacity and a dedicated ambient quarantine area with hard-barrier containment.

Construction Challenges

Specialist Ammonia Refrigeration

The installation of the low-temperature ammonia DX freezer system required detailed risk management and construction planning.

The specialist refrigeration environment introduced risks associated with toxic gas release, sub-zero operating temperatures, high-pressure system failures and potential structural impacts.

These requirements needed to be carefully coordinated with the broader warehouse construction and associated building services.

Major Design Changes During Construction

One of the project's most significant challenges arose when substantial design and service changes were introduced during construction to incorporate the freezer and chilled-storage facilities within the ambient warehouse already being delivered.

The changes required modifications across structural, building and services packages while construction activities continued on site.

Close coordination between Shelford, the client, consultants and specialist contractors was required to resolve the evolving design requirements and integrate the new temperature-controlled environments into the existing construction programme.

Maintaining Construction Progress

Detailed communication and coordination led by the project management team allowed structural, services and building amendments to be progressively implemented while consultation and design documentation continued.

This enabled construction activities to be resequenced where required and allowed works to progress while the specialist freezer and chilled-storage design was finalised.