Morrisons is set to open a 20,000 sq ft distribution centre in Knowsley this November to service customers in the north and north-west as it caters for the growth in its online business.
The supermarket, the UK’s fourth largest retailer, has taken a 15-year lease on property at Academy Business Park, owned by South Manchester landlord, Orbit Developments. Once fully operational, the new site is expected to lead to the creation of 200 jobs, with more than 50 vans servicing Merseyside and North Wales. Ocado will act as the delivery arm for Morrisons’ new site as part of a long-term agreement reached between the two firms in May 2013.
Tony Jones, managing director of Orbit Developments, said: “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.”
According to Jones, the site will eventually consist of 260,000 sq ft of new build industrial units.
