One of the UK’s fastest-growing businesses is in the finishing stages of the development of its impressive new office and warehouse based in Wrexham. The online retailer Net World Sports has been based on Wrexham Industrial Estate since 2014 and work is now nearing completion on its £25m investment that will be located just 1 mile away from their current site. The new 411,000sq. ft base which is due to be completed by the end of the year will include an onsite gym, bar, restaurant, tennis court, football pitch, running track, and much more.
The award-winning company which was established by Alex Lovén in 2009 has seen significant growth every year since it was founded, with its latest annual results showing revenue was up 74% and profits were up 146% year on year. A growing workforce and product range of 10,000+ products meant the company had outgrown their current 130,000sq. ft site, which led to the business needing a new office and warehouse that would better cater to their rapid growth and enable them to continue to despatch customer orders quickly and efficiently.
Net World Sports instructed C4 Projects Ltd to act as their Architect, Project Manager and Quantity surveyor for their new HQ. The new facility will see a four-storey office facility of 31,000sq. ft fronting a storage and distribution warehouse of 380,000sq. ft, bringing the overall development to 411,000sq. ft. The construction began in September 2021 by Portal Construction N.W.
Prior to construction works commencing, an overhead power cable was diverted, and the site was re-profiled to create a level working platform for the build to commence. The building consists of a steel frame (designed and erected by Compass Engineering Ltd) on pad foundations (designed by Tier Consult Ltd), with built-up wall cladding (installed by GM Services Ltd). Concept M&E design work was undertaken by KGA UK Ltd, then detailed design and installation of M&E services was undertaken by JPR Ltd. The 380,000sq.ft warehouse floor slab was laid by ABS Brymar Ltd.
The works included forming a new access point off the main industrial estate road, a service yard, parking for 200 cars, and associated incoming utilities and infrastructure. The development has been designed to be as sympathetic to the surrounding area as possible. Ecologists were engaged to undertake wildlife surveys and consequently newt barriers were installed around the perimeter of the site. Tree protection zones were identified and measures taken to ensure as much of the natural landscape was retained as possible. The warehouse is serviced via six level access doors and fourteen dock levellers (supplied and installed by Assa Abloy Ltd)
The office will be fronted by an illuminated portico. On entering the office, visitors will be greeted by an atrium with a feature timber and glass staircase up to the first floor. All floors are served by a lift (supplied and installed by Orona Lifts Ltd).
Alex Lovén, Founder and Managing Director at Net World Sports comments “We’re a business that is built by the people of Wrexham for the people of Wrexham, so we’re delighted to be committing our long-term future to the town. We’re hugely excited to be delivering such a fantastic working environment for our staff and we’re sure that the new site will help us attract even more local talent whilst also leaving us better placed to achieve our ambitious growth targets”
Jon Pochin, Construction Manager at Portal Construction N.W adds “We’ve been aware of Net World Sports as a business for a number of years and we were delighted to be instructed to manage this project. The scale of the project exceeds anything we’ve taken on before but we’ve made great progress and we’re excited to see the finishing product”
