In Great Britain, refrigerant use is governed by the GB F-gas regime (retained Regulation 517/2014, under government review), while Northern Ireland follows EU Regulation 2024/573. Medicine storage must meet MHRA Good Distribution Practice, food businesses follow FSA temperature-control rules, and ammonia plants follow HSE guidance and, for large inventories, COMAH. Confirm grid capacity early.
Regulations
Great Britain and Northern Ireland now differ on F-gas rules.
- GB F-gas rules restrict high-GWP refrigerants in new equipment; natural refrigerants avoid most future risk.
- MHRA GDP applies to wholesale storage of medicines, including temperature mapping and monitoring.
- HSE guidance covers ammonia systems; COMAH applies above set ammonia thresholds.
Typical projects
Growth is concentrated along the main logistics corridors.
- Multi-temperature retail distribution centres in the Midlands 'golden triangle'.
- Port-centric cold stores near Felixstowe, Southampton, Immingham and Tilbury.
- Pharmaceutical +2…+8 °C warehouses serving the NHS supply chain.
Cost and timeline drivers
Planning and power often set the programme.
- Grid connection lead times can exceed the building programme — apply early.
- Planning consent and noise limits affect condenser and plant-room location.
- High electricity prices make heat recovery and efficient compressors worthwhile.
Official sources for these rules
Rules on this page are summarised from the regulators and legal texts below. Always read the current version before design or tender.
- F gas in refrigeration, air conditioning and fire protection systems (Great Britain) — GOV.UK
- Good manufacturing practice and good distribution practice — MHRA / GOV.UK
- Food hygiene and temperature control for businesses — Food Standards Agency
- Ammonia refrigeration and COMAH guidance — Health and Safety Executive
Links checked: 2026-09-26
Local data notice: we do not yet have verified local price data for United Kingdom. The estimate on this page uses ColdMatch's global planning baseline, not local market prices, and the regulatory points are general orientation only. Confirm current local rules and costs with the authorities listed below before design.
Preliminary cold store estimate
Enter floor area, clear height, temperature and panel material. The estimate combines layout, materials, a project brief and budget in one result.
1. Layout
2. Building materials
3. Budget
| Insulated panels | GBP 35,899 |
| Floor insulation / heating | GBP 7,176 |
| Refrigeration equipment | GBP 103,334 |
| Insulated doors | GBP 8,073 |
| Pallet racking | GBP 63,615 |
| Installation labour | GBP 34,808 |
| Electrical & controls | GBP 17,677 |
| Contingency (10%) | GBP 27,058 |
| Indicative total | GBP 297,641 |
4. Project brief (copy for suppliers)
United Kingdom — Cold store, Chilled 0…+4 °C, 400 m² × 8 m clear height, PIR 100 mm panels, approx. 788 pallet positions, approx. 128 kW refrigeration. Indicative budget GBP 297,641. Please quote on these assumptions.
Rough planning estimate using general assumptions (40/60 W per m³, 1.9 m² per pallet position, typical panel prices). Excludes land, building shell, permits, taxes and freight. Not a quotation.
GBP · ×1.15 local cost level · ONS: Construction output price indices
Get this reviewed — start an RFQAEO · AIO · GEO
Planning a project in this market?
In Great Britain, refrigerant use is governed by the GB F-gas regime (retained Regulation 517/2014, under government review), while Northern Ireland follows EU Regulation 2024/573. Medicine storage must meet MHRA Good Distribution Practice, food businesses follow FSA temperature-control rules, and ammonia plants follow HSE guidance and, for large inventories, COMAH. Confirm grid capacity early.
Start an RFQColdMatch is a supplier-neutral procurement and coordination platform. It does not manufacture, install, sell or finance equipment. Regulations are summarised for planning only — confirm current requirements with local authorities and qualified engineers.
Buyer questions
Which F-gas rules apply to a new cold store in the UK?
Great Britain uses the GB F-gas regime based on retained Regulation 517/2014, which the government is reviewing. Northern Ireland follows EU Regulation 2024/573. Check GOV.UK for the current position.
What does MHRA GDP require for cold storage?
Qualified storage areas, temperature mapping, continuous monitoring, alarms and documented procedures, overseen by a Responsible Person on the wholesale dealer's licence.
When does COMAH apply to an ammonia plant?
COMAH applies when the quantity of ammonia on site reaches the thresholds in the regulations. Low-charge designs usually stay well below them; confirm with HSE guidance.
Can ColdMatch help with a UK project?
Yes. ColdMatch reviews the brief, prepares a comparable RFQ and introduces independent suppliers. It does not build, sell or finance facilities.
Other markets
Planning a project in this market?
Send a short brief. ColdMatch reviews the project first, then introduces suitable independent suppliers — typically for projects from USD 250,000.
Start an RFQ