A former waste management site in South Tyneside is set to be transformed into a huge new logistics base.
Planning approval has been granted for 100,000 sqft of new industrial space on the site of the former Biffa unit on the Simonside Industrial Estate – paving the way for the creation of a new base for logistics giant DHL. The site will change from being used for general industrial to storage and distribution accommodation for the logistics business, with plans including the erection of a new canopy. A new storage and distribution hub is now planned for the site and the operator has been confirmed as global business DHL.
The proposals also include 38 vehicle parking spaces to support future workers sustainably travelling to and from the site with EV charging facilities expected to be installed. The news follows an £8m investment by owners Kans and Kandy Property, which bought the site in 2021.
The unit has been re-categorised as A rated for energy efficiency, subject to the installation of solar panels for the site, and has undergone substantial repairs including improvements to the fabric of the building. Hedley Planning, which has overseen the planning application, said the approved proposals will support the local area and regional supply chain.
Managing director Sean Hedley said: “We are seeing demand for decent industrial space in the region remaining high. New properties such as this one which benefit from investment in good planning, and the latest renewable energy technologies and sustainable construction materials, are always sought after.”
Peter Razaq, co-founder and chairman at Kans and Kandy, has said previously: “This building is a great addition to our growing, diverse portfolio of land and properties. In line with our focus on creating a sustainable legacy, it has been incredibly important to us to go the extra mile to make this building as green as possible.”
Last Autumn parcel delivery firm DPD signed up for a major distribution centre at a new £100m business park.
Joint venture developer and investor Richardson Barberry agreed a 25-year lease with DPD for a 63,000 sq ft warehouse unit at Forrest Park in Newton Aycliffe, Durham. The new parcel hub is expected to safeguard 125 jobs for County Durham and generate a further 250 jobs.
