Cross Hills-based PS Turner (Constructions) Ltd has won a £1 million contract for a new Co-op store less than half a mile down the road from its head office. The design and build contract, designed by Skipton architects Bowman Riley Partnership, involves construction of a new store to replace the existing Co-op, which is the main grocery retailer for Cross Hills and the surrounding villages.

The new steel-framed building will be clad in natural stone to provide a prestige new outlet which fits in well with the character of the area. The project involves demolition of an old bakery behind the original store, which will form part of the site for the new building.

The remainder of the site will be created by demolition of the rear part of the existing Co-op, while the front section will continue to operate until work is completed.

The new store is due for completion in November, and once the business has been moved across to the new premises, the remaining section of the old store will be demolished to provide extra parking spaces. The entire project should be completed in February 2001.

Turners marketing director Mike Smith says: "This is a very complex project, involving part demolition of a store which is very important locally and which will continue to operate business as usual throughout the works.

"Access to the site is severely restricted, and naturally we need to ensure there is as little disruption as possible to Co-op staff, shoppers and local residents. Turners has wide-ranging experience of overcoming challenges such as these, and we will be applying our expertise to the Cross Hills Co-op project to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible."

He says: "This is the latest in a number of projects we have carried out for Yorkshire Co-op, and we are delighted to be continuing our relationship with them so close to home."

PS Turner (Constructions) is a member of the building division of Allen plc. The division will have a national turnover approaching £200 million this year.

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