Employment boost as building begins on dedicated distribution centre

Building work is underway on a new distribution facility in York for national parcel carrier, DPD, which will create 125 new jobs.

Development company, Northminster Properties, has appointed Lindum, York, which is on site as main contractor for the 59,250 sq ft purpose-built facility on a 6.9-acre site at Northminster Business Park.

DPD is relocating with 81 jobs after outgrowing its current base on Clifton Moor to meet the growing demand created by online shopping, a move accelerated by the pandemic.

The new depot will enable DPD to serve York city centre with only electric vehicles.

It will have the latest conveying and sortation technology and opens this autumn. The base will serve the area from Northallerton to Scarborough; southwards to Hull and westwards to Selby and Wetherby.

Once complete, it will include offices and staff welfare facilities and will be built on an extension to the 18-acre business park, accessed by newly created Cropton Road.

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.

“To lead on such a prestigious scheme 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.”

Managing director of Lindum York, Jonathan Sizer, said: “We are very pleased to be working with Northminster. As a local York-based business, it’s great to be in partnership on a project that will generate employment opportunities for people in our community.”

Head of property, DPD group UK, Louise Ferguson, added: “It is great that work has started on site. 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.

“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.”

The Northminster design team also includes property and construction consultants, LHL Group, York; HTC Architects, Leeds; civil and structural engineers, Topping Engineers, Harrogate: mechanical an electrical consultants RBS Design.

Commercial agents Gent Visick, Leeds, acted for Northminster Properties, sbh, Hertford, acted for DPD.