A major Lincolnshire haulage firm, which has gradually been diversifying its business, is looking to the future after snapping-up extra land.
Lincoln-based Chartered Surveyor Banks Long & Co has sold a 1.25 acre site in Whisby Road, Lincoln, to Denby Transport, whose red-liveried fleet of vehicles are regularly spotted travelling the UK and European road networks.
The £7 million company, which employs 75 people, has made a strategic decision to invest at a time when UK companies are looking to better times, in the aftermath of a protracted recession.
Denby Transport Managing Director Peter Denby said: “We decided to grasp the opportunity to buy this piece of land for several reasons.
“First of all, it is adjacent to our present site, so it will give us room to expand our operations in line with our hopes of growing our business. It will also mean that we will be able to develop our storage facilities.”
Denby Transport was established in 1926 by Peter’s grandfather Bill (W G Denby), who was later joined by Peter’s father Dick. Apart from a break of about 12 years after transport was nationalised in 1949, the company has traded non-stop.
“Up until 10 years ago we would have described ourselves as a haulier and
warehouse business, but times are changing, and we are now doing an increasing
amount of work within the UK, as well as our international runs,” said Peter.
“These days we also remove, transport and install equipment for our customers
and we act as a partner to companies by offering a logistics service – which
includes the storage, re-loading and delivery of goods, as required.
“This growing trend of helping customers to manage their supply chain, means
we are likely to need to create bigger storage facilities in the future.”
Banks Long & Co Director William Wall said: “It remains extremely rare for parcels of employment land to become available for sale in Lincoln. Our clients no longer required either this triangle of land or the strategically important seven acres to the south, so we were able to structure simultaneous off-market sales that ensured the necessary swift capital receipt.
“We are pleased that the transaction will help facilitate the growth of such a long established and highly regarded local business.’’
