STEELWORK COMPLETED AT LECKFORD COMPOSTING FACILITY BUILD

Ashridge is currently building a state-of-the-art mushroom compost facility at Leckford, Stockbridge, Hampshire. The multi-million pound contract is for Tunnel Tech who are exclusive suppliers of organic compost for the mushrooms grown for all the major UK supermarkets. This is the third major contract for Ashridge with Tunnel Tech, the UK’s leading producer of specialised compost for the commercial mushroom growing industry. In 2009, Ashridge was responsible for the construction of Tunnel Tech’s pioneering mushroom compost facility in Bawtry, Yorkshire which is recognised as the most modern phase I composting facility in the UK.  Read about the Bawtry project here
At the 15-acre site on the John Lewis Partnership-owned Leckford Estate, the pasteurisation tunnels being constructed by Ashridge will provide a completely new compost production facility that utilises the environmentally friendly method where straw is recycled rather than burnt. The steelwork has now been completed and the Leckford contract is scheduled for completion by Ashridge in August 2010. The contract comprises of 9 concrete pasteurisation and spawn run tunnels each 4.5 metres high 4 metres wide and 42 metres long.  The tunnels total 1400m² with a further 630m² of handling halls and is a fully enclosed in a steel framed building plus a further 2000 m² of external hardstanding area with integral drainage. Peter Jones, Managing Director commented, ”Ashridge is extremely pleased to be working with Tunnel Tech once again after the successful completion of the fermentation bunkers at Bawtry, Yorkshire. We have a very tight schedule but are on track to deliver this project in budget, on time in August.”