Britcon appointed to deliver £16m Ideal Heating expansion

Construction company Britcon has been appointed main contractor to deliver a £16 million expansion for Ideal Heating at its headquarters in Hull.

The 116,000 sq ft expansion will more than double the size of the existing warehouse, allowing the firm to increase production of low-carbon heating products. It will also include the construction of a new office building, car park and infrastructure works including a new access road to the site. Ideal Heating employs over 750 people in Hull and a further 250 elsewhere in the UK.

In 2019 it became the world’s first boiler manufacturer to be certified to ISO 50001 for energy management, achieving this international standard through measures including the use of renewable materials and energy resources in its design and production process.

Jason Speedy, Chief Operations Officer at Ideal Heating, said: “This investment is part of a wider, ambitious plan to significantly grow our business through the introduction of low carbon products for the future. The expansion will enable us to step up production of these and other innovative new heating technologies, reinforcing our well-established green credentials and creating more high-quality jobs in the city.

“We are pleased to be working with Britcon as our strategic delivery partner following a rigorous competitive tender process where they were scored on delivery, safety, cost, and quality of submission. Following a number of site visits for comparable projects, we were very impressed with Britcon’s approach to health and safety, value engineering, and all-important commitment to local engagement.”

Nick Shepherd, Managing Director of Britcon, added: “We are delighted to secure this contract as a local company and support Ideal Heating as it pursues its low carbon agenda. 

“We have a strong local supply chain and are excited to be working in partnership with our client and associated stakeholders in not only delivering this project, but also utilising our experience and resources to deliver local employment opportunities during the construction period.

“This is a significant boost for Britcon as we emerge from the impact of Covid as well as Brexit and I am proud of how the business has evolved since I joined in 2019 to be able to compete at the highest level with impressive credentials and fantastic team of professionals.”

GGP Consult has been appointed to work alongside both companies to provide project management, structural, civil and architectural services on the project. Construction work will start this month with completion anticipated by Autumn 2022.