Building work has started on a new distribution facility in York for national parcel carrier DPD.
It will create 125 new jobs and contribute towards better city centre air quality, say developers.
Northminster Properties has appointed Lindum of York as main contractor for the 59,250 sq ft distribution facility at Northminster Business Park.
DPD is relocating with 81 jobs. The increasing demand created by online shopping, a move accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, means it has outgrown its current base on Clifton Moor.
The new depot will enable DPD to serve York city centre with only electric vehicles.
Opening in the autumn, the depot will serve the area from Northallerton to Scarborough; southwards to Hull and westwards to Selby and Wetherby.
Complete with high-tech sorting equipment, offices and staff welfare facilities, the centre will be built on an extension to the 18-acre business park, accessed by newly created Cropton Road.
There will be 30 level-access loading doors and 11 dock-level loading doors with space for 15 HGVs, 145 vans and 165 cars, including seven for disabled drivers, and 44 secure bicycle spaces.
Northminster Properties managing director George Burgess said: “DPD has demonstrated its commitment to York and Northminster Business Park by signing up to a pre-let.
“We are delighted to lead on such a prestigious scheme, which is positive news for DPD and its thousands of regional customers; for York as a business centre, by creating jobs at a difficult time for the economy and by improving city centre air.”
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“Northminster is a fantastic location for us in terms of accessing the wider region and being able to serve York with a greener, electric-only service,” says DPDgroup UK’s head of property Louise Ferguson.
“The team is looking forward to being able to expand in York and make a positive contribution to the city in terms of new jobs and air quality.”