MFG Stamford

Stamford, Lincolnshire

Commercial

10 weeks

£400k

Project Highlights:

Seamless Architectural Integration – The new extension was constructed using locally sourced Clipsham limestone, ensuring a perfect match with the existing building and the historic surroundings of Stamford, meeting all planning requirements.
Efficient Delivery on a Live Site – Despite the complexities of working on an operational site, the project was completed within the client’s tight timescales, maintaining full trading throughout and coordinating multiple skilled trades to deliver a high-quality finish.
Enhanced Customer Offer and Performance – The addition of a new Greggs food-to-go outlet, upgraded facilities, and energy-efficient LED lighting attracted increased footfall and boosted revenue, resulting in the highest trading Greggs site to date for the client.

The Challenge:

Located in the bustling market town of Stamford in Lincolnshire, known for its charming 17th and 18th century stone buildings, this project required careful attention to local character and planning conditions. Motor Fuel Group (MFG) needed an extension to their Morrisons Daily outlet, positioned on one of the main routes into the town centre. The new structure, made from standard construction methods, was to be clad in locally quarried Clipsham limestone, ensuring the extension matched the existing natural stonework of the original building and blended seamlessly with the surrounding architecture.

The scope of works included installing brand-new jet washers, as well as completing a full internal shop fit-out for a new Greggs food-to-go offering. The project was carried out on a live site, meaning the store continued trading throughout construction, which required careful coordination and detailed traffic management. Working within a tight timescale, the team also needed to pre-order key materials such as specially manufactured wash separators to meet the delivery schedule and maintain project momentum.

The Solution:

To meet the client’s requirements and maintain the character of Stamford’s historic town centre, the team began by excavating the ground and preparing trenches for ducting, followed by concrete formwork and steelwork for the extension, which was carefully attached to the existing building using traditional construction methods. The new flat roof on the extension required Firestone accreditation to ensure a full guarantee of the RubberCover bond, including BBA certification, NHBC approval, and CE marking. Externally, the extension was clad with Clipsham limestone bricks sourced from local supplier Stamford Stone Co, one of our first projects where precise stonework was essential to fit seamlessly into the local area, while internally and externally all branding was completed to specification.

The upgrade also involved modernising the site’s services, including enhanced electricity supply and new drainage for the fowl system within the Greggs store. A full internal fit-out featured new counters, ceilings, plumbing, and flooring, installed by sister company Veatu Flooring, which required careful coordination of a diverse team of skilled trades. Collaboration with the client, architects, local planning authorities, and building control was critical to ensure compliance and smooth progress.

Four brand-new jet wash bays were installed, necessitating a completely new drainage system. Custom-made steelwork for the jet wash bays required detailed surveys and manufacturing to accommodate the site’s varying levels, and a wash separator with silt traps was integrated into the drainage system. The fuel monitoring system was relocated to make space for the new Greggs store, and the shop frontage was upgraded with LED lighting to reduce the site’s carbon footprint in line with the client’s sustainability goals.

External works were completed with tarmac surfacing, while energy efficiency was addressed through 150mm thick Celotex insulation in the roof and 150mm thick concrete slabs on the floor, improving the building’s SAP rating. These government-approved energy assessments ensure the construction materials contributed directly to the performance of the insulation in floors, walls, and roofs, as well as minimising air leakage throughout the building.

The Results:

The completed extension achieved a seamless integration with the existing building, complementing the surrounding architecture and maintaining the character of Stamford’s historic townscape. The project was expertly managed from start to finish, coordinating a diverse team of skilled tradespeople responsible for plumbing, electrical works, painting, joinery, internal flooring, and external tarmacking. Electrical connections were successfully integrated with the internal ePOS systems, ensuring a smooth transition once the new facilities became operational.

The project was completed within the timescales set by the client and with minimal disruption to ongoing trade, allowing the site to remain fully functional throughout construction. The extended facilities have since attracted increased footfall, both from the local community and passing trade, helping the site to significantly boost revenue. The success of the redevelopment has been reflected in performance results, with this location now recognised as the highest trading Greggs site to date.