Supermarket retailer Asda is set to submit plans for a 633,150 sq ft state-of-the-art distribution centre a 44-acre site at Wilson Bowden’s 420-acre Kingsway Business Park, Rochdale.
The development will include almost 500,000 sq ft of warehousing and offices, along with a 133,500 sq ft on-site waste recycling centre. It will handle up to three million cases of chilled frozen food per week as well as other food products. If planning permission is granted it hopes to have the facility up and running by the end of 2012.
Asda currently has 24 distribution centres servicing its stores across the UK.
Ant Everett, head of network development for Asda Distribution, said: “Since the successful acquisition by ASDA of the Netto business in 2010, the company has identified a shortfall in warehouse capacity covering the North West and Yorkshire. We have designed a purpose-built Chilled Distribution Centre to service our growing number of stores. This will be a flagship development, which includes a state-of-the-art recycling centre, and will be one of the most environmentally sustainable developments of its kind in the UK.
“Kingsway’s location, and the fact that it has direct access to the M62, makes it ideal to support stores across the whole of the north of England. When it is fully operational, the proposed investment at Kingsway will provide hundreds of new jobs in the area”.
The retail chain has reached an agreement with Wilson Bowden Developments, developers of Kingsway, for Asda to construct its own facility.
A formal planning application will be submitted for consideration by Rochdale Council’s Planning Sub Committee. If approved, Asda will join a growing list of occupiers on Kingsway including Vindon Scientific, Takeuchi Manufacturing, CR Laurence, a leading US supplier to the glazing, stone and architectural industries, and JD Sports which will soon occupy over 800,000 sq ft of office and distribution centre space.
Manchester surveyors Jones Lang LaSalle and P3 acted for Kingsway’s developer, Wilson Bowden while Colliers International advised Asda.
