Case Study: Transforming Neptune Works in Redditch into a Modern, Sustainable HQ for Budget Shipping Containers
Budget Shipping Containers
Laurence Jones Photography
In summer 2022, Budget Shipping Containers – a fast-growing business specialising in buying, selling and converting shipping containers across the UK – acquired a former training centre in Redditch to become their new headquarters. The building, known as Neptune Works, offered generous space but needed significant redesign and modernisation to turn it into a functional and professional workplace that could support their expanding team and growing operation.
To help unlock the building’s potential, Budget Shipping Containers appointed Masefields Architects & Surveyors as their trusted local partner to guide, design and manage the entire redevelopment project on their behalf.
Understanding the Building’s Potential
The building presented both opportunities and challenges: with a large open-plan factory space, various partitioned offices, narrow corridors
Key early considerations included:
Masefields’ role at this stage was to understand and interpret our customer’s needs while matching them to the project brief and to refine the development approach, ensuring every decision would serve to maximise the value of the building while making the most of the building’s long-term potential.
A Vision Built Around Sustainability and Staff Wellbeing
With limited parking and a prime town-centre location, sustainability was a key driver of the project. A major element of the brief was to introduce new washroom and shower facilities, encouraging the team to cycle, walk or use public transport to get to work.
The client’s vision included:
The overarching goal was to create a headquarters that supported a growing team while promoting wellbeing and environmental responsibility.
Designing a Vibrant, Branded Workspace
Masefields took full responsibility for developing the interior concept and colour scheme. Each office was given its own theme, inspired by Budget Shipping Containers’ bold brand colour palette. The idea was to create a calm but vibrant environment with a balance of professional workspaces and shared recreational areas.
Chris, Managing Director of Budget Shipping Containers, trusted Masefields wholeheartedly with the design direction, saying:
“I knew Masefields would do a far better job than I could do myself!”
The result is a workspace that reflects the company’s personality, supports productivity and delivers a professional environment for staff and visiting clients, as well as any potential business tenants.
Expert Project Management Over a Three-Year Phased Development
One of the key reasons Chris appointed Masefields was the need for full project management. As he runs a busy and growing business, Chris needed a partner who could bring the experience and capability to oversee the entire redevelopment.
The project was designed to be completed in phases over three years, allowing Budget Shipping Containers to continue operating from the building throughout the works. Masefields managed:
A Cost-Effective Partnership That Delivered Peace of Mind
As Chris observed, some businesses might consider avoiding architects to save themselves money, but Chris’s experience proved the opposite. Working with Masefields not only ensured the project ran smoothly, it also resulted in genuine long-term savings for his business.
As Chris explains:
“Masefields made the whole process as simple and as painless as it could be.
Many people avoid using an architect because they want to save money, but Masefields were able to recommend contractors I wouldn’t have been able to appoint myself. By having Steve and the team on board I was able to just concentrate on my own business rather than trying to project manage a major refurbishment. In the long run, it actually saved me money. By appointing professionals like Masefields, we achieved a level of assurance and peace of mind that was invaluable to me and my business. ”
A Headquarters Designed for Growth
The transformation of Neptune Works marks a pivotal step for Budget Shipping Containers. What was once an outdated training facility and factory unit is now a modern, sustainable and flexible headquarters designed to support their continued expansion.
Through thoughtful planning, strong design vision and meticulous project management, Masefields ensured that every detail from fire safety and accessibility to branding and energy performance was considered and delivered to a high standard.
The result is a building that:
For more information on Budget Shipping Containers please visit: Budget Shipping Containers | Shipping Containers UK
Please contact us, if you have the seed of an idea or a project to progress, our team of architects and surveyors will be happy to discuss your requirements.
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