One million sq ft distribution centre to create 1,000 jobs
Discount store Home Bargains has confirmed the beginning of construction of a distribution centre in Doncaster, which will create 1,000 new jobs once complete.
The contract to develop this facility at the Unity Yorkshire regeneration scheme has been awarded to McLaren Construction.
A ground-breaking ceremony took place on 21 March and the centre is expected to be operational in mid-2028.
Upon completion, the facility will be handed over to logistics service provider WITRON for installation of automated picking equipment. The site will be highly automated and will service more than 300 Home Bargains stores by mid 2028.
Stuart Goss, operations director at McLaren Construction, said: “We are thrilled to break ground on this major project for TJ Morris Ltd. (trading as Home Bargains)
“This development is a testament to our expertise in delivering high-specification logistics facilities that drive business growth and regional economic development.”
The distribution centre will span about one million sq ft and is designed to enhance logistics efficiency, create new job opportunities, and support Home Bargains’ expansion plans.
All processes will be controlled by an intelligent warehouse management system from WITRON.
Duncan Pointon, WITRON’s UK sales manager, said: “In addition to the benefits for consumers in the stores, a decisive criterion for TJ Morris was also the focus on the employees who will work with WITRON technology in the logistics centre in the future.
“They will benefit from state-of-the-art, ergonomic workstations, which is an enormous competitive advantage in times of labour shortages.
“In addition, the issue of sustainability, is addressed in many different ways – for example through significant CO2 savings due to densely packed load carriers, optimal truck utilisation, and fewer trucks on the roads.
“Furthermore, through space savings in construction and by significantly reducing excess goods, breakage, and waste.”
Unity Yorkshire is a mixed-use regeneration project, located directly off junction five of the M18/M180 motorway interchange. It aims to turn the area into a thriving business and employment hub.
