Williams Tarr are well under way with a major redevelopment project for an International manufacturing business based in the North West. The six month-long programme involves demolition of various old buildings, underpinning of existing structures and erection of a new two storey steel framed extension to the existing production facilities. The scheme is located adjacent to the client’s offices and laboratories within the heart of the busy manufacturing complex and particular measures are being taken to minimise noise and disruption to their operations. Associated works include new drainage, yard areas, services interfaces with the existing facility and repairs to some other buildings at the site.

Williams Tarr Contracts Director, Trevor Hughes said:

Having completed the enablement works and tricky foundations, we’re now cracking on with the steel frame erection. It’s another very interesting project requiring special care, from the initial demolition works and subsequently with all the logistical and construction interfaces with the clients and their live manufacturing facility.

Williams Tarr have won a repeat order from Kays Medical to construct another high-bay warehouse at their Speke HQ. The project comprises a 32,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art logistics facility with associated drainage and external works. Initial site clearance works have commenced, with the excavation and disposal of 9,000 cubic metres of sub-soil.
Designed by McCormick Architecture, the striking new 17.8 metre-high warehouse will have attractive wall cladding to complement Kays existing HQ office and warehouse complex that was built by Williams Tarr a few years ago.
Most of the new building will have a “super flat” DM 1 Class floor slab suitable for very narrow-aisle (VNA) storage racking that will be accessed by wire guided high-reach forklift trucks.

Kays Medical are complete occupational health providers and one of the UK’s largest and most trusted independent suppliers of first aid, medical supplies, emergency response equipment and Ofqual regulated training.

Williams Tarr’s M.D. David Wilkinson commented:

Like ourselves, Kays Medical is a long-established family business and we’re delighted that they have awarded us this important contract. It’s gratifying to see that a high percentage of our work comes from satisfied repeat customers.

Unifrax have appointed Williams Tarr Construction to carry out an extensive re-cladding and refurbishment project at their Widnes production plant on Sullivan Road. A major new H.V. electricity sub-station is also being built by Williams Tarr on a separate part of the factory.
The re-cladding works include the stripping off and replacement of sheeting rails and cladding systems on a live warehouse area within the manufacturing facility. It is a complex logistical exercise involving temporary weather-proof walls, special scaffolding and roof decks to safely protect the premises and minimise disruption to production.
U.S. based Unifrax are a Global leader in the manufacture of high-performance speciality fibres. The Widnes plant produces specialist fibres that are designed to solve problems in demanding, high-temperature insulation and many other applications up to 1600 °C.

Williams Tarr Contracts Manager Paul Hamlett commented:

Williams Tarr particularly enjoys the challenge and satisfaction of working in live environments. I am confident that successful delivery will be achieved due to the excellent collaborative working relationship that exists between the Client, the design consultants and all our construction team members.

Williams Tarr is relocating its HQ office facility to more modern premises at Greenway House, Greenway, Paddington, Warrington, WA1 3EF, with effect from Tuesday 1st June 2021.

All other contact addresses and phone numbers for us remain unchanged. Williams Tarr’s Materials and Plant Yard at Bridge Road will remain in use as normal.

The new suite of Cat B open-plan air conditioned offices at Greenway House provide staff with a much better environment and provide a more efficient team-working atmosphere.

With the benefit of modern communications technology we have also introduced more flexible staff working arrangements with a combination of office and remote working, promoting improved productivity and a greater work/life balance for staff.

Williams Tarr Construction’s M.D. David Wilkinson said:

Williams Tarr has always been based in Warrington since the business was founded over 103 years ago. Our old office premises, acquired back in the 80s had become inefficient. We’re now looking forward to enjoying the benefits of our new modern offices.

Mick Cullen the Yard and Plant manager at Williams Tarr has recently clocked up an incredible 50 years’ service for the company. Since March 1971, through thick and thin, Mick has always been hands-on behind the scenes carrying out a versatile range of essential duties to help keep the business running smoothly. He has managed our yard, maintained our vehicles and plant, delivered materials and equipment and helped to set up and de-mobilise sites. His cheery smile, great sense of humour and sheer willingness to help with any problems, mark him out as a unique and valued work colleague.

Williams Tarr’s Contracts Director Trevor Hughes who has worked with Mick for the past 26 years was delighted to present him with a special bottle of vintage brandy as part of the celebrations, (pictured right).

Williams Tarr’s M.D. David Wilkinson commented:

Without dedicated and loyal staff like Mick the company wouldn’t be the success it has been, having now recently surpassed its 100th year in business. Congratulations to Mick on reaching your half century!

Williams Tarr have recently handed over a new 34,000 sq. ft. Home Bargains store at Hyndburn. The contract for T J Morris also included construction of an adjoining 15,000 sq. ft. Fitness Centre for JD Gyms.

The £2.5m design and build scheme involved the total de-construction of an existing detached retail unit back to the steel frame and the complete rebuilding to create two new facilities. The profile of the unit was modernised with the introduction of parapets, and the steel structure had to be strengthened to support the new loadings.

The modern, attractive store, clad in Home Bargains corporate branding style, is in a prominent position on the retail park and has enhanced the area considerably.

Williams Tarr Contracts Manager Paul Hamlett said:

We enjoy an excellent non-adversarial team relationship with our client, T J Morris. Over the past few years Williams Tarr has had the pleasure of building numerous new Home Bargains stores at locations from Wednesbury in the Midlands to Holyhead at the tip of Anglesey and up to North Lancashire. Long may it continue!

When the first Covid lockdown was imposed on 16th March 2020 Williams Tarr had just commenced a major £5m+ pharmaceutical project that was classified as “essential”. Almost overnight we had to create Covid-19 Risk Assessments and Method Statements for sites and our Head Office to ensure that everyone was safeguarded and fully compliant. This challenge gave us early experience of managing Covid-secure sites, which allowed us to complete the essential project safely and on time.

It was a tall order. An unprecedented situation demanding intense attention to detail and co-operation from all our operatives, supply chain businesses and client’s teams. Williams Tarr were in the vanguard of construction companies who had to tackle the situation “head on”.

We set up our own track and trace system and produced a wide range of unique procedures and notices to combat Covid risks. Practical measures like additional w.c.’s and canteens to ensure social distancing were introduced, along with extra PPE and sanitising stations. We now also have lateral flow testing available for our work force.

Our efforts were successful and since then we have been awarded further pharmaceutical projects that are driven by the demand for pandemic countermeasures.

These days, whilst the risks of Covid infection are reducing, we are still maintaining a vigilant stance to ensure Covid-secure operations in line with current Government guidelines. Our experience of working safely through the first stringent lockdown period has stood us in good stead for the future.

Williams Tarr Contracts Director Trevor Hughes who heads up our Health & Safety commented:

We have always been extremely safety conscious on our sites and are constantly striving to make sure that the challenges imposed by Covid are being managed safely without compromise to project timelines.

Williams Tarr are well under way with the construction of a new £4 million-plus mixed retail and leisure project at Preston for Sports Direct. The scheme involves the complete refurbishment and doubling in size of Unit A at Deepdale Retail Park on Blackpool Road.

Formerly occupied by Toys r Us, the original 44,500 sq. ft. unit is being stripped back to a bare steel frame and completely rebuilt, including the introduction of a steel-framed mezzanine floor to the full area, almost doubling the existing floor space. The new unit is being configured to accommodate for Sports Direct, Evans Cycles and Flannels luxury clothing, together with a state-of-the-art Everlast Fitness Centre on the first floor.

As the building sits on a former land-fill site, an extensive network of pre-augured bottom driven piles are being installed to carry the new pad foundations. The mezzanine will have a composite metal deck and power floated concrete floor. Careful reinstatement of existing geo-membranes under the floor slab and external works will be required as works progress.

The new roof and wall cladding will incorporate large areas of glazed curtain walling and feature entrances. Internally the scope includes the introduction of a new passenger/goods lift, a platform lift and an escalator. Changing rooms, toilets and offices for the gym are to be incorporated, together with ancillary store rooms, etc.

Other works include sprinklers, external lighting, new incoming mains and adaptations to external works and drainage.

Williams Tarr Managing Director, David Wilkinson said:

Having recently finished a major retail scheme at Cheetham Hill for Sports Direct, it’s gratifying to secure repeat business. We are very experienced at delivering projects in live environments.

Following the recent major refurbishment by Williams Tarr at Cheetham Hill Retail Park, the new Sports Direct and Lidl Stores are now open for business.

The existing units have been completely re-vamped to an ultra-modern standard with new roof and wall cladding and an extensive mezzanine floor was introduced to increase the floor area by 40,000 sq. ft.

The attractive new curtain walled facades have transformed the old units and created an ambience for the new stores that is more than a match for other retail parks in the area.

Williams Tarr Contracts Manager Paul Hamlett said:

We had to overcome some interesting logistical problems in constructing the new piled mezzanine foundations within the confines of the existing building shell. In the event it all went very smoothly and we’re delighted with the finished job. The new facades look really striking.

Williams Tarr have commenced the phase one refurbishment of Cheetham Hill Retail Park for Sports Direct Property Ltd. The £2.6m design and build project to reconfigure and refurb half of the park, entails extensive work to the building envelope including an eye-catching new flat ceramic panel façade with expansive curtain walling and feature entrances.

Internally, a large area of floor slab is to be renewed and piled foundations are being installed to support the new 4,000 m² concrete mezzanine floor, which will almost double the phase one retail floor area. Other internal works include new escape staircases, pits for lifts and an escalator, new party walls and modifications to sprinklers and emergency lighting.

External works involve adaptations to the car park and entrance pavings, drainage and mains services.

The busy adjoining stores are occupied by B&M Bargains and Currys/PC World, so it is essential that the work does not impact on their trading whilst ensuring full unhindered and safe access to customers. With completion of the shell scheduled in December, Lidl are set to be one of the new occupiers.

Cube are Project Managers for the Client, Pozzoni are the Architects and WYG are carrying out the structural design.

Williams Tarr M.D. David Wilkinson commented:

We’ve been working with the Sports Direct team developing the design on this scheme for some time and we’re delighted that we can now get construction operations under way.  The new facades will give the park a truly outstanding, modern look on this prominent corner site.