St. Modwen, the UK’s leading regeneration specialist, has started work on a major distribution centre for international parcel delivery firm DPD in Stoke-on-Trent, safeguarding over 100 jobs and creating more than 90 additional job opportunities.
The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Majid Khan, joined representatives of St. Modwen and DPD owner, GeoPost, for the ground breaking ceremony on site at Etruria Valley.
The 60,000 sq ft facility will replace DPD’s existing facility in Newcastle, Stoke-on-Trent and construction is due for completion in October this year. It is part of GeoPost’s nationwide acquisition programme of new depots and is one of three new sites that St. Modwen is delivering for DPD, with a 60,000 sq ft depot currently being developed at Skypark in Exeter and a 69,000 sq ft depot in Stonebridge Park, Liverpool.
Euan Lindsay, Senior Development Manager at St. Modwen, said: “Attracting an international business like DPD pays testament to the quality and prime location of Etruria Valley, which is already home to high profile occupiers including Vodafone and Hanley Economic Building Society.
“This is one of a number of distribution centres that St. Modwen is delivering for DPD across the country this year – with other sites including Exeter and Liverpool.”
Dwain McDonald, Chief Executive Officer of DPD, said: “Etruria Valley offers us a strategic location at the heart of the West Midlands and national motorway network, with quick and easy access to the M6.
“We need this new facility to cater for our growing business. At Christmas time alone we expect our 250 vans to collect and deliver more than 35,000 parcels across the region.