WORK by Ilkley-based building services group NG Bailey to create a new breed of motorway service station has been completed ahead of schedule.

After the £2.4 million project to provide all mechanical and electrical power installation at the flagship £40 million green Gloucester services, NG Bailey has started work on a second similar scheme.

The company worked with main contractor Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd., to build a service station featuring Cotswold stone walls and a grass roof with plans for a lake and beehives to produce honey on site.

NG Bailey's Bradford-based offsite manufacturing operation and its engineering and IT services division worked in tandem on the installation of all heating and ventilation, domestic services, electrics and power distribution, internal and external lighting, fire alarms, CCTV and data systems.

This helped to enable the client Gloucester Gateway Ltd was able to move into the site ahead of the project's completion to carry out staff familiarisation and training before opening to the public.

David Thomas, NG Bailey’s engineering division operations director, said: “The opening of Gloucester services heralds the start of a new era for the UK motorway network “The unique building shape and size made the co-ordination and installation of services more difficult than usual yet our team rose to the challenge, including harnessing 3D computer-aided design technology for the delivery of plant rooms.

“We are delighted to play such an important role in its creation and we are now looking to extend the concept further by working on the southbound service station, due to open this summer.”