Around 250 new jobs in the North East are set to be created, with an additional 150 jobs secured at DPD, following the parcel delivery firm's commitment to a major distribution centre at a new £100m business park.
Richardson Barberry, the joint venture developer and investor, has agreed a 25-year lease with DPD for a 63,000 sq ft warehouse unit on an eight-acre site at Forrest Park, located next to Junction 59 of the A1(M) at Newton Aycliffe, Durham. The new parcel hub is expected to secure 125 jobs for County Durham and create an additional 250 jobs as part of the new warehouse being built specifically for DPD at Forrest Park.
The deal comes two years after Richardson Barberry obtained planning consent for eight warehouses at Forrest Park, as part of efforts to provide 1.8 million sq ft of industrial space and create over 3,000 jobs in the next decade, boosting County Durham's economy by nearly half a billion pounds. The partnership has already obtained reserve matters planning consent and plans to submit a minor amendment, specific to DPD's building, with the aim of commencing construction on site at the beginning of next year.
Jon Robinson, development director for Barberry, said: "This is a major pre-let to DPD, an internationally recognised occupier, demonstrates the quality of our proposed development at Forrest Park, it's connectivity and proximity to the motorway junction and nearby demographic and availability of labour. The pre-let will allow us to open up the site and create additional estate infrastructure and development plateaus. This is an exciting moment for the North East, Richardson Barberry and Forrest Park ."
He added: "We are thrilled to have agreed a 25-year lease with DPD, this deal has already prompted other potential occupiers who have shown interest in Forrest Park. We can deliver building opportunities on both Freehold and Leasehold terms from 30,000 sq ft up to 1m sq ft. Newton Aycliffe is a highly attractive location for a range of major businesses due to its access to a skilled labour demographic and it is testament to the quality of Forrest Park that we have agreed pre-let terms with such a major occupier as DPD," reports .
Louise Ferguson, head of property for DPD Group º£½ÇÊÓƵ Ltd, said: "We are absolutely delighted to agree terms for a new, purpose-built DPD distribution centre at Forrest Park. It is a great location for us. The new facility is part of DPD's aim to be the most sustainable delivery company in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ and a leader in the move to electric delivery vehicles.
"We have heavily invested in our regional network over the past decade to cater to the significant surge in demand for our services. This new facility will enable us to provide an even better service to the area, with a more efficient fleet, shorter journeys and reduced emissions," said a representative from the company. Richardson Barberry has already invested £14m in preparing the site for development.
Forrest Park (Newton Aycliffe) Limited, a joint venture between Durham County Council and local landowners the Forrest family, signed a development agreement with Richardson Barberry. The development will expand Aycliffe Business Park, making it the largest in the region, housing a variety of business, industrial, warehouse and trade units, roadside restaurants and retail space adjacent to the A1(M).
As part of Geopost, DPD º£½ÇÊÓƵ aims to achieve Net Zero by 2040, a target fully validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). DPD º£½ÇÊÓƵ recently confirmed that the º£½ÇÊÓƵ operation is on track to meet the group target.
