Kingsway build boosts local economy

Winvic Construction has announced that it has awarded over £1million worth of subcontracts to local businesses during the construction and fit out of the new JD Sports unit on Kingsway Business Park, Rochdale.

With a footprint of 616,000ft2 and a mezzanine of 250,000ft2, the structure is one of the largest to be built in the North West in the last decade. It has also been awarded ‘Excellent’ status for best practice in sustainable building design through the national Building Research Establishment’s (BRE) Environmental Assessment Method.

Winvic has been on site for the last eighteen months and has worked closely with local agency J21 to encourage the use of local companies on the project.

Jason Bright, Project Manager for Winvic, said: “Although we operate nationally, we prefer to subcontract work to local businesses when appropriate. During this build we have awarded contracts to Rochdale and Oldham companies which in total were worth well in excess of £1m.”

Awarding contracts locally has also meant a large number of local people have benefited, with more than 70 people from the Rochdale area working on site at various times.

John Hudson, Chief Executive of Rochdale Development Agency, said: “To hear that over £1m has gone into the local economy is a real boost, not just for the area, but for the many people who have benefited from the work that it has created.”

Fit-out work is currently taking place inside the building, with JD Sports hoping to take occupation in Spring of 2012.