Task – Planning Approval

Delighted to be working with Stofords and Task Consumer Products on Tasks new headquarters in Wolverhampton consisting of c. 210,000sqft new build industrial / distribution warehousing with offices, which will link up to Tasks existing operation providing a new campus of 447,768sqft.

Planning consent has been granted for the new £30 million headquarters, both units will target BREEAM Excellent and create up to 50 new jobs.

Task is one of the UK’s largest independent paper converters and specialises in the manufacture and distribution of market-leading soft tissue products including toilet tissue, kitchen towels and hand towels. It employs more than 120 full-time staff.

These proposals reflect that company’s intentions to expand within their existing site. Established in 2007 and based at the current site since the mid-2010’s, they have continued to benefit from the easy links to the motorway network and accessibility to a highly skilled workforce. The location of the site is directly off Stafford Road and consists of the existing production facility and a vacant manufacturing warehouse subject to demolition. This project is seen as a further commitment to the area and a necessary expansion of their facilities to meet increasing demand.

The Design

The orientation and arrangement of the extension is designed to respect the existing Task facility, integrating into the existing infrastructure and operational processes. A format has been developed that allows the continued use of the existing office and entrances, with the extension serving purely as an extension to the warehouse content. 

Pedestrian access links directly into the perimeter paths of the new building and Stafford Road beyond, with the existing parking provisions reformatted along the East elevation and additional overflow spaces located to the South. These locations tie into the expanded perimeter estate roads, which retain the one-way system to the full perimeter of the existing building. 

Between the extension and the new building, an enclosed bridge link is located to span the estate road and allow seamless operations throughout.

The new building arrangement has been dictated by the format of the site, creating a linear footprint which extends along the East / West axis.

The design of the new building incorporates three levels of office accommodation that faces out towards Stafford Road and addresses the main approach to the site from all directions. This has been sized relative to the warehouse to ensure that the functional demands can be met, in accordance with the standards. The position of the offices provides a number of positive building frontages that overlook all of the main site access points providing natural surveillance and a sense of security for users. 

An operational service yard is located along the South elevation, capitalising on the length of the building to incorporate substantial dock and level access provisions which are supported by a two-storey hub office. The development provides an opportunity to apply the principles of sustainable development to the project to ensure that materials, energy and resources are used efficiently and innovatively and work cohesively within the overall scheme.