Jobs boost as Morrisons signs for distribution centre

YORKSHIRE supermarket group Morrisons is to create 200 jobs at a new distribution base in Knowsley, Merseyside.

It has taken a 15-year lease on 20,000 sq ft at the Academy Business Park which is owned by Alderley Edge-based Orbit Developments.

Orbit said the deal paved the way for a speculative 100,000 sq ft distribution unit at the park which will eventually have 260,000 sq ft.

Morrisons’ centre will service online customers in Merseyside and North Wales with a fleet of 54 vans run by Ocado which has a distribution deal with the Bradford-based group.

Orbit’s managing director Tony Jones said: “We are delighted to see that Morrisons has chosen to open its Merseyside distribution centre at Academy Business Park, which is part of Knowsley Industrial & Business Park. This will now lead to the redevelopment of the business park at Knowsley which will see a speculative new build of 100,000 sq ft distribution unit. The scheme will eventually consist of 260,000 sq ft of new build industrial units.”