High-tech horticultural specialist CambridgeHOK has been selected as build partner for Sir James Dyson’s latest multi-million pound venture.
The celebrated entrepreneur has added agriculture to his advanced engineering stable, with Beeswax Dyson Farming.
Now the East Yorkshire business will design and build a huge new year-round strawberry production facility at a site in Lincolnshire.
Spanning six hectares, the glasshouse packaging and cold store facility in Carrington, near Boston, will be able to produce 750 tonnes of strawberries at any one time.
Ross Hibbs, commercial director at Newport-based CambridgeHOK, said: “This is a huge development in the 海角视频 horticultural sector as this development is the first of its kind in its sheer size, complexity, sophistication and green credentials.
“We are extremely proud to have worked alongside Beeswax Dyson Farming over the past 12 months to bring this project from initial concept to the stage where we will now embark on making it a reality.
“This project will use cutting-edge techniques and technology to produce the highest quality British grown strawberries all year round, something our leading brand supermarkets and local distributors are desperate to see – as are consumers.
“It will also be the most energy efficient and green development of its kind. We are all very excited at what is ahead over the coming nine months.”
Most Read
The site will use heat and energy from a current anaerobic digester biogas plant - where maize and rye silage is converted. Biogas will also be extracted, cleaned and converted into C02, to be used to enhance the growing environment and improve crop yields.
Methane gas, which is already created by the anaerobic digestion process, will be used to create electricity to power the 63,800 sq m glasshouse – and more than 7,000 homes - through a specially built combined heat and power system.
The site will even be self-sufficient in terms of water usage, with the entire site harvesting rainfall to be reused in irrigation systems.
The multi-million pound project has been a year in development, and now with planning permission secured, work on site is due to start with a target of production beginning early next year.
CambridgeHOK will oversee the design, on-site construction and development of the glasshouse, which has been manufactured by its long-term Netherlands-based specialist, Havecon.
Combined with the East Yorkshire firm’s “specialist knowledge in automated climate control systems, irrigation and energy systems, it will ensure the very best operational performance”, Mr Hibbs said, adding that securing the huge project is “a huge vote of confidence in CambridgeHOK and its industry-leading reputation”.
“Beeswax Dyson Farming has a reputation for being a modern and hi-tech farming business which is committed to producing the best produce in the interests of both customers, and the environment, for the long-term,” he said.
Don’t miss
“We are delighted that we were the chosen firm to deliver this vision for them and have led this project from concept, through planning and now into development.”
Levelling and profiling work is expected to start next month, as will piling, with around 1,800 concrete piles required to support the development.
As well as the glasshouse, CambridgeHOK will construct a 1,500 sq m packing and cold store facility, where strawberries will be housed and made ready for collection and delivery, as well as a portal frame building which will house office staff, kitchens, and restrooms.
It will also be responsible for the construction of access roads, car parking and lighting across the new site.
Around 60 full time jobs will be created.