UPS has revealed details of its plans to build a £120 million sorting and delivery centre at DP World’s London Gateway Logistics Park.
Logistics Manager reported that UPS was seeking planning permission for the development in August.
The 32,000 sq m (344,000 sq ft) facility will rank as one of UPS’s largest infrastructure investments outside of the United States in the company’s history.
It is designed to provide capacity for UPS’s future growth. When it is completed in the summer of 2017, it will act as a UK hub and distribution centre for the local area as well as a gateway to UPS’s global transport network. Once completed, the facility will be able to process approximately 30,000 packages per hour, with room for further expansion.
Luis Arriaga, managing director for UK, Ireland & Nordics, said: “This construction reaffirms UPS’s commitment to the UK and our confidence in its economy.
“It is part of our nearly $2 billion in infrastructure investments across Europe over the next five years. Through these investments, we will continue to do what UPS does best, which is to reliably and efficiently connect our customers of all sizes to destinations all over the world.”
H.E Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman, DP World, said: “We congratulate UPS on this strategic development. By using DP World London Gateway Park and Port, UPS will have a fast ‘global conveyor-belt’ directly connected to their own worldwide network. UPS’s hub will also provide distribution solutions to other logistics park occupiers. This combination of world class services will be a unique offering for the UK and Europe.”
Planning consent for UPS was confirmed within 17 days, one of the quickest ever achieved in the UK for this type of development. This was under the London Gateway Local Development Order which was made in 2013.
John Kent, leader of Thurrock Council, said: “The fact that UPS is the latest international company to sign up at London Gateway here in Thurrock is yet another signal that this world class facility is exceptionally well-placed for the logistics industry in the south and east of the country.
“This is why Thurrock Council worked so closely with DP World at London Gateway to create the award-winning Local Development Order, enabling companies like UPS to have the certainty and a speedy resolution to their planning proposals.”
