GMI marks completion of steel framework at £15.7m North East waste to energy facility

GMI Construction Group has completed the steel framework of a £15.7m waste to energy facility in the North East ahead of schedule.

To mark the milestone in the delivery of the 75,000 sq. ft development, Gary Oates, GMI’s Divisional Managing Director, and Ian Jones, Joint Managing Director of Fornax Environmental Solutions, performed a steel signing ceremony.

Work on the high temperature thermal treatment facility in County Durham began in June and is due for completion by April 2025, after which it will undergo a three- month commissioning period.

Developed for Fornax Environmental Solutions, it will process up to 10,500 tonnes annually of hazardous and clinical waste produced by the industrial and health care sectors, largely within the region. Using advanced rotary kiln combustion technology, the energy and heat generated will be made available to neighbouring businesses, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

The facility, located on Millennium Way, is the second development at Merchant Park in Newton Aycliffe, a £90m, 65-acre scheme that includes Hitachi Rail Europe.

Creating 75 construction jobs and a further 27 permanent roles, the facility aims for a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’ and an EPC grade B, depending on fit outs. The building will feature first-floor offices, high eave heights, advanced warehouse floor loadings, secure yards, and EV charging stations.

Gary Oates, GMI’s Regional Director, said: “This milestone marks an exciting chapter for the project and highlights the incredible progress we’ve made. Completing the steel framework ahead of schedule highlights the dedication, skill, and teamwork of our staff and delivery partners and reaffirms our commitment to providing high-quality industrial facilities in the North East.”

Ian Jones, Joint Managing Director of Fornax Environmental Solutions, added: “The completion of the steel framework is a significant step toward fulfilling our mission of delivering this sustainable waste management solution.

“We are investing in a critically underfunded sector within the UK, addressing the limited capacity for the disposal of clinical and hazardous waste. Instead of exporting it offshore, we’re offering a local solution to a local problem.

“However, this facility will also provide energy to local businesses. Many have already expressed interest in the heat offtake, helping them reduce their reliance on carbon-based fossil fuels for heating and electricity.”