A new format Tesco Eco Store, providing 82,565 sq ft of sales floor and a Petrol Filling Station in a landscaped environment, has been opened in Corby and was designed by Woods Hardwick.
After detailed site investigation work at the 7.8 hectare location at St James’s Road, Woods Hardwick has, despite the challenging constraints that existed, achieved a modern and dynamic treatment for a part of Corby that has remained undeveloped for decades.
The single-storey supermarket itself is clad in a combination of curtain walling and timber Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) faced in a larch outer rainscreen.
The building is topped with Monodraught windcatchers which provide both a statement feature and sustainable natural ventilation to the store. Rooflights provide natural daylight to the salesfloor.
The supermarket was designed to cope thermally with the additional demand placed on a building of this size and function. The U-value of the walls was increased from previous trial stores, and SIPs were installed, having been manufactured off-site.
Other initiatives include an increase in cycle racks to encourage cycling to work, waste sorting and composting areas in the rear service yard, and rainwater harvesting tanks under the front of the car park. The Corby Tesco Eco Store, the retailer’s 50th Regeneration Partnership store, has achieved a BREAAM ‘Very Good’ rating. One of the largest of its kind built to date, the store has also provided for 300 new jobs in the area.
Specifically, the striking design of the Petrol Filling Station (PFS) main canopy with its dramatic sweeping form inspired by a Fibonacci curve has created a new landmark. This both creates a new gateway to the retail site, but also a visual link to two other modern landmarks - the new railway station and the Corby Cube, which houses council offices, a library and theatre.
Ellen Jones, lead architect for the project at Woods Hardwick says: “This was a challenging and exacting brief to work on. Our response was driven by the complexity of the site’s heritage and the fact that an out of town development was to be treated and viewed as an in-town development.”
The development features a range of responses which reconnect the project to the area as a whole. Working with the local community, consideration has been given and issues addressed around pedestrian and cycle access and routes through and from the site.
An ecology zone wraps around the site allowing species such a newts to be re-homed, and links to another environmental zone to form an eco corridor. Extensive planting, avenues of trees and positioning of bench seats address the desire to achieve an enhanced landscaped environment and add texture to the site.
The development has contributed significantly to the regeneration of this part of Corby and maintains the Borough’s emphasis on modern design in “its battle against becoming a clone town”.
From the ground up, all environmental criteria were addressed at the site from the outset to incorporate the most effective treatments. It was possible to approach the development in this way as the Woods Hardwick team was able to work closely with the developer and with their client Tesco.
It was also critical the team worked closely with the Environment Agency. The area, acquired by Mulberry Developments, was formally known as Soothills. A brownfield site, the land had been contaminated through its association with the Corby Steel Works.
No harmful materials were left on site after decontamination work over a period of years but the presence of sulphur could, when wet, cause ground heave.
This unique challenge was overcome in part through the decision to build on piles and enable the ground to be encapsulated. The tubular recycled steel piles used were manufactured originally in Corby and had a previous life on North Sea oilrigs. Alongside the steel piles are concrete piles and together they form the base to enable the floating construction to sit above ground and be isolated from it.
