Business Growth Underpins 'NEXT' Plans for Major New Distribution Centre in Doncaster
Thursday, 13 November 2014
Plans for a major 'Next' distribution warehouse development in Doncaster could bring 500 new jobs, officials have revealed.
Retail giant Next wants to build a warehouse with offices in Armthorpe, complete with new access road and link bridge over Holme Wood Lane. It would link with the firm’s existing warehouse on Westmoor Park, which has been running for nine years.
A report from Doncaster Council planning officers to members of the authority’s planning committee, ahead of a meeting today, says business has grown significantly over recent years and means the company now needs extra warehouse space to operate as its national distribution centre. The planned warehouse would occupy an 85,000 square metre site.
The report says: “The development would represent significant investment from a major company, resulting in more than 500 new jobs at the new warehouse, as well as securing 528 jobs at the existing Next facilities.”
The scheme – which is recommended for approval – would see a bigger warehouse built than the firm had originally intended, with its height increased from 19.5m to 25.5m. The site would accommodate 394 car parking spaces, along with 48 heavy goods vehicle parking spaces, 15 trailer boxed parking spaces and 55 loading bays.
In their report, council officials are not raising any objections to the plans and say the development will have no detrimental impacts. However, they have asked for a contribution to the cost of the future upgrading of the A630 as a condition of the scheme getting the go-ahead – the council is looking at changing the road, the West Moor Link Road, into a dual carriageway.
Borough business leaders have welcomed the potential jobs boost.
Dan Fell, deputy chief executive of Doncaster Chamber, said: “Any investment into Doncaster is a good thing and the news this would bring 500 jobs is a wonderful boost.
“I think Doncaster is clearly developing its status as a logistics hub in the UK, with major operations already here such as Ikea and Amazon as well as the existing Next site. There is a roll call of significant firms and for Next to be looking to invest on this scale is really positive.”
