Postal operator Whistl is to move into a new super depot for its northern operations in late Spring.
The company has taken a ten year lease on M&G Real Estate’s Logistics 225 unit at Harworth Group’s flagship Logistics North development in Bolton – the seventh deal at the site in the past three years, reaffirming the site’s position as one of the North West’s leading Logistics and Distribution locations.
The new site allows Whistl to consolidate existing operations in Leeds and Warrington onto one site that has 33% greater capacity for future expansion of its existing mail, packet and parcel and ecommerce business.
As part of the move Whistl will begin its recruitment campaign in the Bolton area in conjunction with Bolton Council, through its Team Bolton partnership, to recruit people to the site. Whistl has offered staff employed at the existing Leeds and Warrington depots the opportunity to work at the new site.
The move to Bolton will significantly improve the operational efficiency of Whistl as the state of the art building has 4 level access doors, 20 dock levellers, 50 trailer parking spaces, 31 loading positions and 222 car parking spaces.
Nick Wells, CEO at Whistl said: “We are delighted to confirm that we are investing in this grade A facility at Logistics North in Bolton. The new depot will enable us to provide an excellent working environment for our colleagues as well enable us to continue providing high quality and efficient services to our customers. We look forward to working with Bolton Council on recruiting people to work at Whistl in the coming months.”
Councillor Cliff Morris, leader of Bolton Council, said: “This is great news for local people and will be of tremendous benefit to our town and residents. I am proud that our hard work behind the scenes has paid off as Whistl joins the likes of Lidl, Aldi, MBDA and Joy Global, bringing at least 100 new jobs and additional revenue into the borough.
“This clearly demonstrates that Logistics North is the perfect distribution site for business and a key site for the North West. With another major company due to be announced soon, it is clear that Bolton is an attractive proposition for business growth.”
David Crowley, director of logistics and industrial asset management at M&G Real Estate, added: “The buildings we have funded at Logistics North form an important part of our current 1.4m sq. ft. speculative logistics programme. This early pre let to Whistl underlines the strength of the location and is testament to our ongoing strategy to create core product in prime locations which will provide long term income returns for the funds. We shall continue to look for similar opportunities into 2017 and add to our £2.4 billion industrial and logistics portfolio.”
Ian Ball, executive director of capital growth at Harworth Group plc, added: “Logistics North has established itself as one of the North of England’s leading distribution locations and we are delighted to welcome another leading company like Whistl to take occupancy of Logistics 225 within six weeks of us completing it on M&G’s behalf. Whistl’s arrival at Logistics North further proves the site’s strategic importance to distribution companies and the underlying strength of the Logistics market in the North West.
Alexandra oliver - 11/02/2017 19:09
Trucker would amuse himself by running over lawyers. Whenever he saw a lawyer walking down the side of the road he would swerve to hit him, enjoy the load, satisfying “THUMP”, and then swerve back onto the road. One day, as the truck driver was driving along he saw a priest hitchhiking. He thought he would do a good turn and pulled the truck over. He asked the priest, “Where are you going, Father?” “I’m going to the church 5 miles down the road,” replied the priest. “No problem, Father! I’ll give you a lift. Climb in the truck.” The happy priest climbed into the passenger seat and the truck driver continued down the road. Suddenly the truck driver saw a lawyer walking down the road and instinctively he swerved to hit him. But then he remembered there was a priest in the truck with him, so at the last minute he swerved back away, narrowly missing the lawyer. However even though he was certain he missed the lawyer, he still heard a loud “THUD”. Not understanding where the noise came from he glanced in his mirrors and when he didn’t see anything, he turned to the priest and said, “I’m sorry Father. I almost hit that lawyer.” “I know”, replied the priest. “Lucky I got him with the door!”