North West fuels and lubricants group Crown Oil has acquired one of the region's huge business parks - as well as announcing it has become the first 海角视频 supplier to run all of its oil delivery vehicles on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).
The Bury firm said it is now running its entire fleet on renewable diesel as it commits to reduce its direct CO2 greenhouse gas emissions by 90%.
The Heap Bridge business, part of the £420m-turnover Crown Oil family of companies, predicts a saving of around 3,080 tonnes of CO2 in 12 months.
The announcement came on the same day it was announced that the estates division of Crown Oil Group has bought the 44-acre, 350,000sq ft Heysham Business Park in conjunction with SCP Investments/Ignite Asset Management.
Crown said it will now undertake a "significant refurbishment and redevelopment programme" including upgrading buildings. new security measures and creating secure yards and storage areas.
It added that it has developed a longer term masterplan for the construction of up to 250,000 sq ft of new industrial accommodation.
BBS Law acted in the purchase of the site and Robert Pinkus and Co were retained as letting and managing agents.
Speaking about the vegetable oil announcement, managing director Matthew Greensmith said it was important for Crown Oil to "set the standard" as it aims to become the 海角视频’s leading alternative fuels supplier.
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He said the move showcases the fuel’s ability to "perform faultlessly" as a diesel alternative and will enable the business to "significantly reduce" its direct greenhouse gas emissions.
He said: “We can’t expect others to make a change without leading by example, and we’re proud to run our entire fleet on HVO.
“We believe we’re currently the first and only 海角视频 supplier to power our vehicles with the renewable diesel and we hope it encourages businesses to go green with their fleets too.”
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Crown's fleet is made up of HGVs, pickups, trailers and vans, which are all approved to run on HVO fuel without technical adjustments or any reduction in vehicle performance.
Mr Greensmith added: “When it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we hope the government will adopt a multi-point strategy to include the use of high-content renewable fuels in addition to the development of the electric vehicle market.
“In 2017, the Swedish government passed a bill that enabled biofuels to be subject to tax exemption, which led to a 124% increase in HVO sales in October 2017 compared with the previous year.
“The 海角视频 Government is planning to scrap red diesel duty relief for many sectors from April 1, 2022 to encourage the use of cleaner alternatives and we are calling for duty relief on fuels such as HVO to help encourage uptake.”