New Potato Box Store for Heygate Farms (Swaffham) Ltd

Back in the winter of 2021 Heygate Farms (Swaffham) Ltd, due to increased rental costs, decided to embark on building their own Box Store facility at their Snails Pit farm site on the outskirts of Swaffham. Bennett & Co. (Crop Storage Engineering) Ltd. were entrusted to obtain planning permission and deliver the project, with A C Bacon Engineering Ltd supplying and erecting the steelwork, cladding, & Doors.

A notoriously ‘difficult parcel of land to farm’ behind established buildings was identified as the prime location for the development; access to which, would be via an extension of the apron servicing the existing sheds.

4 Nº∙ 1000t potato box stores were designed to fit under 2 Nº∙ portal frame structures with a link canopy and lorry loading canopy providing a watertight access for loading and unloading the crop from the stores.

Principal Contractor D G Scales Plant Hire Ltd excavated & levelled the site and were responsible for casting of the foundations; they also were responsible for all underground drainage.

Following the erection of 66 tonnes of structural steelwork & 2334m² of Kingspan KS1000RW Quadcore roof cladding, a PV panel array was added to the roof. The energy generated will be used to help power the store and reduce the overall carbon footprint of the development.

D G Scales Plant Hire Ltd cast the floors throughout the building,  allowing our cladding gangs to return to site and fit a further 2379m2 of Kingspan KS1000RW wall cladding to the perimeter and partition walls, including the fitting of 24 Nº∙ Mechanical louvres supplied by Farm Electronics. 4 Nº∙ Insulated sectional doors & 8 Nº∙ Personnel doors were also supplied and fitted by ACB. Refrigeration equipment was supplied and installed by Farm Electronics. The final stage of the project was for D G Scales Plant Hire Ltd to cast an Empty Box pad immediately adjacent the building.

The handing over of this project to Heygate Farms (Swaffham) Ltd, was one of the final acts of Mike Bennett, who retired and ceased trading in April this year. The final building is quintessential of Mike’s commitment and attention to detail, for which he became renowned throughout his 25 year tenure as Director of Bennett & Co. (Crop Storage Engineering) Ltd. Everyone at A C Bacon Engineering Ltd would like to wish Mike all the best in his retirement.