We were hired to transform a brownfield, former manufacturing site into a sustainable employment hub, delivering twenty five industrial units from 2,100 to 41,500 sq ft through a mix of refurbished and new build space.

Network Space acquired the former Cartwright Trailers site in Altrincham with the aim of creating a modern, multi-tenant industrial hub.

For us, the challenge was to make the most of what was already there while introducing new, high-quality space that would attract occupiers and fit sensitively within the surrounding area. This meant carefully assessing which existing buildings could be refurbished, where new build was the better option, and how to address local concerns such as noise and height.

Sustainability was a central part of the brief, with an emphasis on reducing embodied carbon and delivering long-term value.

Through careful design that responded to the needs of the area, we transformed the site into a mix of refurbished and new build units.

Our team retained and upgraded Units A and B, reusing their frames to deliver nearly 7,836 sqm of light industrial space. We added new build units across the rest of the site, including a flexible mid-box Unit F with dock loading.

The reuse of existing structures cut embodied carbon by 50 per cent. On the new build structures, Unit F achieved BREEAM Excellent, and the wider scheme achieved Very Good: a fantastic result all round.

The design tackled local concerns head-on, with measures that reduced noise and softened the visual impact. This was an important part of responding to the concerns of the local community to achieve a scheme that was good for all.