Wakefield-based HJ Consulting Engineers (HJCE) has been appointed by commercial development and construction firm Marshall CDP to provide consultancy, civil and structural engineering services for the Ainley Top scheme in Calderdale. The appointment places HJCE's ground engineering, highway design and drainage expertise at the centre of a development set to deliver almost 100,000sq ft of new industrial space in West Yorkshire.

The Elland-based family business is progressing plans for a 73,000sq ft industrial building with two-storey office accommodation alongside a further 20,000sq ft unit, Bdaily reported. The 11-acre site off New Hey Road, around 2.5 miles north-west of Huddersfield town centre, is allocated for employment use within the Calderdale Local Plan.

HJCE's engineering role extends to ground engineering, highway design, flood risk assessment and drainage strategy planning. Plans also include parking for 136 vehicles alongside new landscaping and supporting infrastructure.

Dale Fox, project manager at Marshall CDP, said: "Our development delivers a high-quality, functional design that creates much needed employment floorspace in Calderdale in accordance with local plan policies." Fox added: "We're delighted to have HJCE onboard as our engineering partners, who are playing a key role in the delivery of this project in West Yorkshire."

The structural driver is rising demand for engineering expertise across UK development projects, with employment floorspace shortages in Calderdale prompting new industrial schemes under local plan policy. HJCE said the appointment comes as it reports growing demand for its engineering services across the sector.

Based at Wakefield 41 Business Park, HJCE employs a 28-strong team and is continuing to recruit as its workload expands. Andrew Fairburn, managing director, said: "We will be looking to strengthen our partnership with Marshall's on this and other projects."

Fairburn added: "The new work comes at a time when we are seeing continued strong growth, we're targeting revenues of £3 million in the next 12 months, on the back of current and new work right across the UK."

For the sector, the Ainley Top appointment adds to HJCE's expanding engineering portfolio as demand for employment floorspace continues to grow across West Yorkshire and the wider UK.

Source: bdaily.co.uk