Drinks Can Manufacturing Facility

Commercial real estate developer Hillwood UK wanted to transform a 30-acre brownfield site in Peterborough into Europe’s largest drinks can manufacturing facility – a high-speed, sustainable production hub.

We were appointed to provide project and cost management, employer’s agent, principal designer and sustainability services from the first conversations through to completion.

Guiding the project from start to finish

Originally engaged to deliver a speculative scheme, we worked closely with Hillwood and the end user to shape the brief and understand how specialist suppliers would work together.

The project included four high-speed can lines, automated clad rack storage and Cat B offices, all within a 625,000 ft² facility. Early feasibility work considered operational needs, economic volatility, inflation and supply chain challenges caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

We guided the appointment of the main contractor through a two-stage tender under a JCT Design and Build 2016 contract. As the project developed, we helped negotiate cost, design and planning, making sure the contract worked for everyone.

We coordinated installation of specialist equipment, managed clad rack integration and delivered the ecological commitments, all while keeping production milestones moving. Early access planning, clear scheduling and practical cost control helped keep teams on the same page from start to finish.

A landmark facility delivered

The completed plant spans 625,000 ft² and incorporates four high-speed can lines, automated clad rack storage and Cat B offices. Phased production is designed to reach more than three billion cans annually, creating a modern, future ready manufacturing hub. Sustainability was embedded from the outset, helping the scheme achieve BREEAM Excellent.

A new benchmark in UK manufacturing

The facility strengthens Peterborough’s role in the global supply chain while regenerating a major brownfield site. It has created hundreds of jobs and delivered ecological benefits through biodiversity enhancements. By combining technical knowledge with practical, hands-on delivery, we helped create a high-performing, sustainable facility built for years of production ahead.