NG Bailey completes groundbreaking motorway service station

NG Bailey has completed a £2.4m project on what it claims is the first of a new breed of more eco-friendly motorway service stations.

Working in partnership with main contractor Buckingham Group Contracting, the Yorkshire-based engineers secured a design and build contract for all mechanical, electrical and power work at the £40m Gloucester services.

The M5 service station has Cotswold stone walls, a grass roof and will eventually include a lake and beehives, so enabling honey to be produced on site.

The operator Gloucestershire Gateway Ltd has pledged to plough a share of its profits into local social enterprises and will source its food and drink from local suppliers in a bid to mark itself out from more run-of-the-mill motorway service stations.

David Thomas, operations director for NG Bailey’s Engineering division, said the company had used its specialist offsite manufacturing team for bracketry and distribution board assembly to reduce on-site installation times.

He said: “The unique building shape and size made the coordination and installation of services more difficult than usual yet our team rose to the challenge, including harnessing 3D computer-aided design technology for the delivery of plant rooms.

“We are delighted to play such an important role in its creation and we are now looking to extend the concept further by working on the southbound service station, due to open in summer next year.”