Multi-million pound investment in Rockingham de-fleet facility

Rockingham Group is investing more than £12 million in phase two of the expansion of its remarketing facility at its Automotive Logistics Hub at Rockingham, Northants.

Work has already started on the site, which will provide 50,000 square ft of vehicle processing space and a capacity to process more than 50,000 vehicles a year. Due for completion in March 2021, the facility will be exclusively used by Groupe CAT. It first announced plans to redevelop the site in August 2018.

Rockingham also has planning consent for 1.3m square feet of large-scale distribution warehousing. 

Stuart Wright, principal of Rockingham Group, said: “Our ongoing investment in the 250-acre facility is part of our overall strategy to create the UK’s leading independent automotive logistics centre with vehicle storage capacity along with large scale PDI and de-fleet vehicle processing facilities.

“Our customers are on course to handle PDI and de-fleet contracts in excess of 150,000 vehicles over the next 12-18 months. 

“We have secured major automotive firms including GEFCO, Groupe CAT, IT Fleet and City Auction Group at Rockingham and have capacity to house more operators. 

“We have the flexibility to build bespoke de-fleet and remarketing facilities, regardless of how large or technical the requirements. There is easy access for arrivals, hard surface roads, storage areas and space to create dedicated inspection, repair, and cleaning facilities.”

Rockingham Automotive Logistics Hub has implemented a multi-million-pound investment in the former raceway and has already completed refurbishment of its onsite facilities, including an executive lounge and cafe, gym, offices, meeting rooms, rest rooms and upgraded offices for the site management team.

In the first few weeks of lockdown, Rockingham Group reported a surge in enquiries for short-term, secure storage from local and national leasing and hire companies as 1,000s of vehicles stood idle.