News: Inside the massive Rotherham warehouse where staff share the work with 250 robots

NEXT, the British multinational clothing, footwear and home products retailer, has announced the success of an automation collaboration at its Dearne Valley Pallet fulfillment centre in Rotherham.

In 500,000 sq ft of warehouse space at Manvers, 250 Geek+ robots handle both goods-to-person picking and order sorting processes for NEXT's e-commerce operations.

Opened in 2008, Next's 1.1m sq ft Rotherham operation at Brookfield's Park had 1,500+ people working there in 2021, when the robots were first introduced. The two buildings can handle over 100,000 pallets and includes the largest warehouse in Next's 13-site distribution network. A £50m, 200,000 sq ft extension is on the cards, creating an additional 150 jobs.

Faced with high demand and operating in the volatile fashion industry, NEXT decided to streamline its processes and scale up efficiently to meet new customer requirements. To achieve this goal, they have sought efficient solutions including selecting Geek+ as their robotic warehouse automation partner. The hybrid “Pick-and-Sort” solution is the result of the successful co-development process between the two companies.

Liam Jenkinson, Site Manager at NEXT, said: "Working with Geek+ has been a positive experience for us, both from the start and with the ongoing support provided. The flexibility offered by Geek+'s picking and sortation system is critical to our operations, and the integration between our Warehouse Management System and Geek+'s Robot Management System is seamless. As our business continues to expand, we are planning to extend the warehouse and replicate the success of this project in the new space."

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The process begins with the Geek+ P800 picking robots, which retrieve the pallets from the pallet transfer area and move them to the storage area for picking. Once a picking order is initiated, the robot transports the rack to a multifunctional workstation that is utilised for both the picking and sorting procedures. Once the picking is completed, the operator deposits the item onto the S20C sorting robot. The S20C robot then transfers the goods to the designated chute for the depot, while the parcel heads downstairs for packing. The flexibility of the Geek+ solution enables NEXT to manage a wide variety of products that differ in size, weight, and velocity of sale.

With this solution, NEXT can process 16,000 units per day. According to NEXT, the efficiency of the automated process is twice that of manual picking.

Brian Lee, VP of EMEA Region at Geek+, said: "NEXT is a visionary customer that placed their trust in us. We are proud to have fulfilled our promise and provided NEXT's warehouse with our intelligent and flexible warehouse automation solutions. We are eager to replicate it in more warehouses across the UK, Europe, and around the global."

This improved efficiency has not only enabled NEXT to handle a record volume during the last Christmas season without requiring additional labour, but it has also allowed them to push the cut-off time from 6 pm to 10 pm while still meeting their NEXT day delivery promise. One of the advantages of the Geek+ solution is its scalability. To meet their growing demand, NEXT introduced 50 additional S20C robots earlier this year.

NEXT plc website
Geek+ website

Images: Geek+ / NEXT

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News: Next planning to invest £50m in Rotherham expansion

National retailer, Next, looks set to revive a decade-old plan to expand its already massive distribution warehouse in Rotherham due to a rise in online sales.

If approved, the development would create 150 jobs.

Developed by St Paul's Developments and opened in 2008, Next's 1.1m sq ft Rotherham operation at Brookfield's Park in Manvers is home to around 450 employees.

The two buildings can handle over 100,000 pallets and includes the largest warehouse in Next's 13-site distribution network that handles over 300 million units each year. The network makes 88,000 deliveries every year to 500 Next stores across the UK and millions of internet and Next Directory catalogue customers.

In 2013, investment fund managers, Tritax sold the two units in a deal worth £87m to Legal & General Property.

Plans have now been submitted for a 200,000 sq ft extension to one of the buildings on the south western elevation facing Manvers Way. It would mean that the existing car park for the facility would be moved immediately west.

The proposals are almost exactly the same as those submitted in 2011 but were never constructed.

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Plans, drawn up by RPS planning consultants, state: "The proposed size, location and orientation of the building is designed to satisfy the needs of the existing user, Next Plc, who have a need to expand their capacity to facilitate their distribution of goods on a national and regional basis from this location.

"The proposed facility is projected to create up to 150 additional full-time posts overall, working a combination of shift times. This will take the number of full-time employees at the facility from 450 to 600 overall.

"The development presents a well considered, inclusive design solution to provide an extension to an already successful facility which is tailored to specific client requirements, bringing additional employment and economic investment to an identified enterprise zone. In doing this, the development will serve to increase the viability of the Brookfield’s Park Development as a whole, and strengthen the local community."

Planning documents also state that the base building and fit out costs for the development come in in the region of £50m – a significant investment in this site.

Next Plc adapted quickly to the pandemic and recently saw online sales jump 69% from the same period in 2019.

Next website

Images: Next / PRS

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News: Next Outlet to open in Rotherham

Leading UK-based retailer, Next, is set to open an outlet store in Rotherham next month.

Famous for its sales, the retailer sells collections for women, men, children and the home. Outlet stores sell all of the usual Next selection but at clearance prices.

Set to open in August, a Next Outlet will take space at the Boundary Mill store at Catcliffe retail park.

Next trades from more than 500 stores in the UK and Eire and around 200 stores in 40 countries overseas. Next already operates from a unit at Parkgate Shopping and Rotherham is home to the company's massive distribution centre in Manvers where two units at Brookfield's Park total 1.1m sq ft. The closest clearance store is at Heeley Retail Park in Sheffield.

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Boundary Mill Stores is the largest quality mill store of its kind in the UK and the expanding Lancashire-based retailer became the new occupier of the former Big W store at Catcliffe in 2012. The 130,000 sq ft store had been empty since Woolworths went into administration in 2008.

Boundary Mill Stores are owned by Libra Textiles Ltd who trade from five locations with and reported a turnover of £31.8m for the year ending January 2016, with profits of £2.1m. The stores offer branded goods at discount prices. Departments include ladieswear, menswear, homewares, gifts, books, dvds, arts and crafts and perfume and cosmetics.

The company operates a concession partnership where brands reatin ownership of the stock and Boundary Mill Stores allocates space on the basis of prospective or actual sales and receives commission for the provision of the space in the retail environment and sales support services.

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In the year to January 2106, sales for NEXT Retail increased by 1% and for NEXT Directory, the company's online and catalogue business, sales increased by 8%. Total Group sales rose by 3% to £4.1bn.

Next chief executive, Lord Wolfson, stated that this financial year "may well be the toughest we have faced since 2008" with cost pressures and impacts on consumer spending. The company still estimated that it would add around 275,000 sq ft of net trading space in 2016/17 and a further 350,000 sq ft in 2017/18.

Next website
Boundary Mills website

Images: Next

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News: 70 e-bikes on their way to Rotherham

A project that aims to get more local journeys to be by bike, foot or public transport, has secured 70 electric bikes via a Government initiative.

Journey Matters offers pedal and electric bikes to hire for people cycling to work, looking for work or who want to reduce the costs of commuting. CycleBoost operates "The Hub", travelling around the borough visiting various locations and businesses, providing a "one-stop shop" for everything to do with bikes, including repairs, cycle hire, riding skills and training as well as information and advice.

The new Hub is being delivered on behalf of Rotherham Council by CycleBoost in partnership with Inmotion!. The scheme aims to promote sustainable travel and encourage more people to replace shorter car journeys by travelling by bike.

Free pedal and electric bike hire is available for up to three months. This includes the free loan of a quality bike and all the equipment required such as bike lights, a lock and helmet to try cycling to work and for leisure. Bikes are maintained throughout the loan period and participants are fully supported with cycle training and route planning if required. At the end of the loan period participants can buy a bike from a local bike shop for a large discount off the normal retail price.

South Yorkshire was awarded £4.8m from the Government's Local Sustainable Transport Fund 2 for 2015/16. This South Yorkshire-wide project aims to support economic growth and cut carbon through a range of sustainable transport measures. A major element of the bid included the promotion of cycling through the introduction of cycle hubs and services in the four South Yorkshire districts.

The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Sharing Pilot Scheme is the latest announcement backing the Government's commitment to double the number of cycle journeys by encouraging people of all ages and abilities to get on their bikes.

Rotherham has secured the most bikes from a pot of £700,000 with 70 e-bikes to be made available to the public via the existing popular mobile hub, aiming to attract commuters who previously do not cycle.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: "Electric bikes are a great way to encourage new people to get into cycling and today's announcement will provide an opportunity for thousands more to enjoy the advantages they offer.

"Cycling helps cut congestion and is a healthy, affordable transport option.

"We want to double the number of journeys made by bicycle. That is why we are also investing over the next five years in cycle training and infrastructure."

The Hub has already proved popular in Rotherham. Jason White, facilities manager at Next Distribution at Manvers, said: "It really benefits our business. It provides a convenient and flexible service with a range of free cycling offers, all in one place, to encourage Next employees to cycle to work."

Craig Burns, from Wolseley UK Ltd, builders merchants of Maltby, said the free bike hire scheme is "excellent". He said: "I would recommend it to anyone. I didn’t cycle before and I wanted to try an electric bike before I bought one. It has taken a while to build up my level of fitness, but now I cycle to and from work and ride at the weekend whilst out doing my shopping. I have cycled 1,000 miles and ride at least five times a week. Using an electric bike makes it easier to ride up hills, it gives you a boost along the way. My health and fitness has improved as a result of cycling. I've lost two stone, saved over £50 on travel costs each month and I am also doing my bit for the environment."

In 2013, Bike & Go, a nationwide bike hire scheme, was made available at the redeveloped Rotherham Central Station, giving train users the opportunity to complete their journey on two wheels.

Journey Matters website
Cycleboost website

Images: Journey Matters

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News: Next warehouse is a big deal

The 2013 acquisition of the massive Next distribution centre in Manvers, Rotherham by Legal & General Property was the largest deal for a single property in what was a record year for distribution warehouse investment.

Investment fund managers, Tritax sold the two units at Brookfield's Park, which total 1.1m sq ft, in a deal worth £87m and secured a yield of 5.5%.

According to research from Savills, 2013 was a record year for distribution warehouse investment with approximately £2.5 billion transacted, which is an increase of nearly 50% on 2012. The international real estate advisor notes that this rise was driven by a continued growth in demand for the sector from an increasingly diverse investor group from the UK and overseas.

James Williams, investment director at Savills, said: "Interest from investors in the logistics sector has gained incredible momentum over the last 12 months. While UK funds and REITs have dominated the market, we are also seeing increasing interest on a global platform from a diverse range of buyers from the USA, Russia, the Middle East and South Africa.

"This rise in demand has inevitably generated strong yield compression and resulted in distribution warehouses outperforming all other property sub-sectors in 2013, according to IPD, with returns of 15.2% being delivered."

Key deals that also took place in 2013 include: ProLogis' acquisition of a £247m portfolio from London Metric, Gazeley Properties' funding of John Lewis at Magna Park in Milton Keynes to Aviva Investors for £76.5m; Henderson's acquisition of RD Park, Hoddesdon for £74.5m; and the purchase of Marks & Spencer Distribution Centre in Castle Donnington by Tritax Big Box REIT for £82.57m.

Andrew Bull, industrial director at Savills, said: "Looking forward we anticipate investor demand will remain strong for the logistics sector, buoyed by a continuing improvement and confidence in the occupational markets. In addition, the absence of a loosening in supply of suitable investment stock will ensure yields remain robust during 2014. Further yield hardening is possible over the short term however we do not expect to see it on the same scale as 2013."

Developed by St Paul's Developments and opened in 2008, Next's Rotherham operation is home to around 450 employees. The two buildings can handle 110,000 pallets and includes the largest warehouse in Next's 13-site distribution network that handles a total 315 million units each year. The network makes 88,000 deliveries every year to 500 Next stores across the UK and 2.6 million active internet and Next Directory catalogue customers.

Savills website

Images: LSH

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News: Dearne deals done as Yorkshire's investment peaks

The sale of the massive Next distribution centre in Manvers, Rotherham for £86.68m took the total invested in commercial property in Yorkshire for the year-to-date to £727m; the highest cumulative total since 2010.

Research by commercial property consultants, Lambert Smith Hampton showed that a total of £301m was invested in the third quarter of 2013. This is almost 10% down on the previous quarter but took the total for the year-to-date to £727m; a 21% increase compared with the same period in 2012.

For the first time in over two years, the industrial and distribution sector was the region's most heavily invested asset class, with transactions totalling £157m. Boosted by Legal & General's acquisition of two distribution units at Brookfields Park in Rotherham for £86.6m, the sector accounted for 52% of the region's total investment activity.

Investment fund managers, Tritax sold the two units at Brookfield's Park, which total 1.1m sq ft, and secured a yield of 5.5%.

Developed by St Paul's Developments and opened in 2008, the Rotherham operation is home to around 450 employees. The two buildings can handle 110,000 pallets and includes the largest warehouse in Next's 13-site distribution network that handles a total 315 million units each year. The network makes 88,000 deliveries every year to 500 Next stores across the UK and 2.6 million active internet and Next Directory catalogue customers.

The sale followed from a previous deal which saw an unnamed UK investor purchase Maplin's head office and distribution warehouse, also at Brookfields Park, for £11.5m, boosting the figure for the second quarter to £334m.

Abid Jaffry, regional director of capital markets at LSH, said: "Activity levels across all main sectors in the market look very positive going forward. We have experienced considerable interest in assets we have marketed, to a point where we are now seeing highly competitive situations with a number of investors. This is beginning to drive pricing levels higher – a situation we have not seen on a consistent basis for some time.

"The volume of money in the market suggests that we will continue to see more transactional activity where pricing levels are beginning to exceed historic book values."

Lambert Smith Hampton website

Images: LSH

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News: Next investment deal completed in Rotherham

Legal & General Property has bought the massive Next distribution centre in Manvers, Rotherham in a deal worth £86.68m.

Investment fund managers, Tritax sold the two units at Brookfield's Park, which total 1.1m sq ft, and secured a yield of 5.5%.


SG Commercial acted for Legal & General Property, CBRE advised Next and Tritax.

Developed by St Paul's Developments and opened in 2008, the Rotherham operation is home to around 450 employees. The two buildings can handle 110,000 pallets and includes the largest warehouse in Next's 13-site distribution network that handles a total 315 million units each year. The network makes 88,000 deliveries every year to 500 Next stores across the UK and 2.6 million active internet and Next Directory catalogue customers.

In 2006 Tritax established an off-shore Unit Trust, based in the Isle of Man, to fund development of the units that were already pre-let to Next for 25 years (at an initial rent of £4.4m pa) with no breaks and fixed rental uplifts of 2.5% p.a. compounded every five years.

The £115.8m trust enabled investors to shelter tax at 100% under the Enterprise Zone allowances regime and the sale after seven years means that there will be no clawback of the investor's initial tax relief.


Legal & General Property is the third largest institutional real estate manager in the UK with £9.2bn assets under management. The deal follows from the recent deal which saw an unnamed UK investor purchase Maplin's head office and distribution warehouse, also at Brookfields Park, for £11.5m.

A number of major property agents have seen a recent increase in the number of investment deals. Investment volumes across Yorkshire soared during Q2 2013, reaching approximately £334m and representing an increase of 267% on Q1 2013, at £91m according to latest research by Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH). 

Abid Jaffry, Northern Head of Capital Markets at LSH, said: "The regional investment market is currently dominated by UK investors who have been priced out of the Central London market and are seeking to take advantage of the greater value that can be achieved within the regions.

"There continues to be a large amount of competition for prime assets due to the lack of stock being brought to the market.  A significant proportion of the transactions were of considerable size which is indicative investor conditions across the North and highlights the groundswell of cash in the market at present."

Nationally, over £1.03 billion of capital was invested in UK industrial and logistics property in the first half of this year, more than the total volume transacted in 2012, according to new research from global property advisor CBRE.

Richard Moffitt, Head of UK Industrial and Logistics at CBRE, said: "We have witnessed a resurgence in buyers eyeing quality UK industrial and logistics property this year, driven by compelling evidence of the sector's performance relative to other asset classes.

"Occupier markets continue to thrive, and the resulting lack of prime stock has led to a surge in design and build activity in the best markets. The high levels of investment have led to an inward movement in prime yields, now at 5.5% for the best stock, and we expect this trend to continue as competition for prime assets grows."

Experts at Jones Lang LaSalle believe that UK institutions and overseas buyers are attracted by the so-called "Big Box" market’s security, relatively high yields and potential for rental growth due to diminishing supply and improving occupier demand. The latter is being partly driven by the growth of multi-channel retailing, which is driving demand for both mega fulfilment centres and smaller parcel hubs.

Images: LSH

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News: Next warehouse extension could create 150 jobs in Rotherham

Due to a need to expand their capacity, retail giant, Next has submitted plans to extend their massive Rotherham warehouse. A development that could create 150 new jobs.

Opened in 2008, the existing Manvers operation at Brookfield's Park is 1.1m sq ft (122,000 sq m) and is home to 450 employees.

The two buildings can already handle 110,000 pallets and includes the largest warehouse in Next's 13-site distribution network that handles a total 315 million units each year. The network makes 88,000 deliveries every year to 500 Next stores across the UK and 2.6 million active internet and Next Directory catalogue customers.

Submitted by site owners and developers, St Paul's Developments, the new plans would see the 700,000 sq ft (65,500 sq m) unit (already the size of six football pitches) extended by 200,000 sq ft (18,700 sq m) into the existing car park.

In their latest financial results for the Half Year Ended July 2010, Next reported that group revenues increased 5% to £1,587m and profit before tax increased 15% to £213m. This was helped by strong performance of the Next Directory with sales up by 9.5%.

The 85 acre development at Brookfield's Park was created when after the former colliery site was reclaimed by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. It is home to DBC Foodservice, Solaglas Windowcare, Maplin Electronics, Garnett Dickinson and Pegler Yorkshire Group.

Next website

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