Minerva House: the first private development to utilise a barge for construction logistics

London, United Kingdom. Minerva House, SE1, is the first private development on the River Thames to utilise a barge to remove construction materials from site, according to GPS Marine.

Multiplex is main contractor for Minerva House for GPE. The company continues to innovate its approach to sustainability, and the use of the barge will reduce the total number of heavy goods vehicles that would have travelled to and from the local area during the deconstruction phase by 65%. The River Thames will act as the primary route to remove waste from an area with very high footfall, as well as reducing noise and air pollution in a congested, pedestrian heavy environment.

Minerva House will deliver 143,000 sq ft of new best-in-class workspaces, in a rejuvenated and expanded building, making the most of its impressive river frontage. It is one of GPE's latest central London projects to be designed and built in line with GPE's updated Roadmap to Net Zero. The project will embrace the principles of the circular economy, including the retention and re-use of over 70% of the existing building and the recovery of 20 tonnes of glass that be used in the production of new glass for use on the open market, for other projects across London.

James Shipton, Senior Development Management at GPE said: "We are determined to embrace innovative processes that help put our local communities first. Taking this collaborative approach with Morrisroe and Multiplex, allows us to make full use of the River Thames as a primary route for transport, which being the first private development to do so, will help set the right example for our peers to embrace on our decarbonisation journey."

Elinor Strapp, Project Manager at Multiplex, added: "Right from the outset of the project, GPE have engaged both Multiplex and Morrisroe to consider alternative ways of delivering this project. Noting the location of the site, with so many critical local stakeholders including residents, Southwark Cathedral and Borough Market, utilising the barge for construction logistics was a key driver to mitigate the impact of our project delivery to those surrounding stakeholders. Collaborating closely with Morrisroe and GPS Marine has allowed the project team to realise this, and we're excited for the next phases of the project."

Image credits GPE: Minerva, SE1