Marks & Spencer launched a programme to consolidate its existing logistics network and needed a new centralised distribution facility in the North of England. Prologis had acquired the West Bowling Golf Club in a 50/50 joint venture partnership with Marks & Spencer; the site being adjacent to the M606 and 3 miles north of the M62. A planning application was resubmitted to Bradford Metropolitan District Council for a 1.1million sq ft distribution centre that was to be a certified carbon neutral building as part of Marks & Spencer ‘Plan A’ environmental policy.

The site is bounded by the M606 to the west and Rooley Lane to the north which necessitated a new access road to the north east. The undulating nature of the former golf course site required a major cut and fill exercise.

As part of the site works it was determined that the cutting into the existing M606 and Rooley Lane embankment would increase the area of land to be developed and ensure that the cut/fill balance would be neutral. The cut profiles for the project were specified at 65° to the horizontal and were a maximum height of 10m.

PaSCoE were commissioned to design a suitable stabilisation scheme for the cuttings using soil nails. The planning application required the cuttings to have a gabion finish.

The cuttings were subject to section 38 agreements and had a total face area in excess of 2000m². Work was completed in 2010 and the site is now in operation.