Ryton plant to be turned into Network Rail distribution centre
NETWORK Rail is to create a 300,000-sq ft national road haulage distribution centre on the site of the former Peugeot plant at Ryton, near Coventry.
The £25m centre will create approximately 100 jobs when it opens, as well as supporting construction jobs whilst it is being built.
It will be a significant hub for Network Rail’s National Delivery Service (NDS) and centralise previously leased properties in Lichfield, Worcester and Ludgershall.
Martin Elwood, director of Network Rail NDS, said: “Network Rail’s first preference is to transport goods by rail. This is not always the right solution so we have an extensive road fleet to transport goods and equipment to our work sites and depots.
“By bringing the logistics for this together at Ryton we can offer a more effective and efficient service for Network Rail. This will mean reduced costs and faster turnaround times when we do work on the railway.”
The site is being acquired from developer Prologis and it is anticipated that the new distribution centre will open its doors in July next year.
The building has been designed to be BREEAM rated – an environmental standard that Network Rail is committed to fulfilling in new projects. The construction contractor is Buckingham.
The former Peugeot plant was closed in 2006. Originally it produced aircraft engines during the Second World War.
Meanwhile, in a transaction that marks Prologis’ first land acquisition in the West Midlands for five years, the developer has bought the adjacent 33 acre site from Ryton Properties Ltd, extending Prologis Park Ryton to a total of 98 acres.
Andrew Griffiths, managing director of Prologis UK, said: “Despite the challenging economic conditions, we are investing prudently in our land bank so that we can offer customers the best opportunities in the UK market.
“With the supply of standing stock in such short supply, we are aware of the importance of having strategic and deliverable land opportunities available to offer customers on a build-to-suit basis. The acqusition of the extension land allows us to offer a broader range of development opportunities to our customers within a high quality business park environment.”
Jones Lang LaSalle, Gerald Eve and North Rae Sanders acted for Prologis.
