News: New Rotherham depot for Warrior Link

A nationwide specialist haulage provider has expanded into a new depot in Rotherham, with the help of Wake Smith Solicitors.

Warrior Link, founded in 2021 by industry veteran Lee Hollingworth and previously headquartered in Sheffield, provides transport solutions including palletised freight, contract logistics, and time-sensitive deliveries to sectors including manufacturing, food, packaging and construction.

The company, which offers nationwide coverage through its reliable 28-vehicle fleet, has relocated into a 9,994 sq ft detached premises on Lowton Way on Hellaby Industrial Estate in Rotherham, marking the firm’s biggest facility lease to date.

The former parcel hub site offers Warrior Link warehousing and offices on a large plot of 1.25 acres and allows growth for the sustainable, smart logistics operation.

Christie Smith from Sheffield’s Wake Smith Solicitors’ commercial property team acted for Warrior Link on the lease with Kitty Hendrick, senior surveyor from the Sheffield office of Knight Frank representing landlord Ravensworth Properties.

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Lee Hollingworth, managing director, at Warrior Link, which has added 7 roles to its 49-strong employee count following the move, said: “With over 24 years of logistics experience behind our team, Warrior Link has built a reputation for being a solid partner for smart, flexible haulage solutions.

“Warrior Link has been built on real-world logistics experience, and a passion for delivering exceptional service. We combine decades of transport knowledge with a growing vehicle fleet and team of experienced, forces-friendly drivers.

“Lowton provided the ideal location with excellent transport links to M1 and M18 and is central to the nationwide areas which we service. We have created additional roles with the move to accommodate our growing business.

“Both Knight Frank and Wake Smith Solicitors were excellent and helped the move go smoothly.”

Lowton Way on Hellaby Industrial Estate, already occupied by Pyronix Ltd, Northern Powergrid, Parseq, KP Nuts and Reflex Systems Ltd, benefits from access to the motorway being situated immediately adjacent to Junction 1 of the M18. The M1 and A1(M) are within close proximity.

Warrior Link, which also has depots in Nottingham, Milton Keynes and Doncaster, is driven by military heritage and veteran values, employing many ex-forces personnel as well as supporting the Armed Forces Covenant and prides itself on its professional, uniformed drivers trained in customer interaction.

Services include nationwide palletised freight; contract logistics; time-sensitive and ad-hoc loads; return load/backhaul solutions to reduce empty miles; and ambient, non-refrigerated loads.

The firm quickly grew into a trusted transport partner for manufacturers, construction firms, facilities management providers and more and achieved 20% electrification by the end of 2025, driving change in the logistics sector.

Warrior Link website

Images: Knight Frank

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News: Rotherham delivery firm downed by dispute

Rotherham-based logistics specialist Humber Services Ltd, went into administration following a dispute with a major client.

The firm, based at Wath, was established in 2018 and operated a "white glove" delivery service for furniture retailers.

Experts from business advisory firm Quantuma were appointed as administrators of Humber Services Ltd on August 1 2025.

Quantuma explained that the company was experiencing cashflow difficulties as a result of a client dispute and was coming under creditor pressure.

An update from the administrators said: "Although haulage and storage were the Company's primary operations, it later began supplying complete bed components on behalf of one client. Customer orders for beds were placed through the client and fulfilled by the Company.

"However, a dispute arose as a result of customer complaints, resulting in significant issues and customer dissatisfaction. Many customers refused to pay the client, and the Company decided to cease providing this service for this client. As a result, the client issued asubstantial counterclaim against the Company, estimated at c.£1m."

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In June, the company ceased to trade and the business was transferred to connected company, HS Home Deliveries Ltd. In July a creditor presented a winding up petition against the company.

Paragon Business Finance Plc was the major creditor as Humber Services' ledger was subject to an invoice factoring agreement. The value of the Company's debtor ledger was £529,338 but administrators said that the majority of the ledger is aged and/or disputed and therefore the estimated to realise value is £76,771.

Unsecured creditors are estimated to be £1.2m.

Quantuma added: "Humber Services experienced cashflow difficulties following a dispute with a major customer, which resulted in a breakdown of the relationship, non-payment for services rendered and the receipt of significant counterclaims for non-performance.

"Following creditor action, the company was at risk of liquidation and the secured creditor appointed Quantuma to gain control of the situation on a more urgent basis than liquidation would have allowed."

Quantuma managing director and Joint Administrator Andrew Watling said: “It is extremely regrettable that Humber Services was forced to cease trading, due to a series of challenging circumstances. This was a sad ending for an established Company. As Joint Administrators, our immediate priorities have been to seek to obtain maximum value for the Company’s creditors.”

Images: Humber Services / Facebook

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News: Parseq opens e-commerce warehouse at Rotherham HQ

Parseq, one of the UK’s largest independent managed service providers, today announced that it has repurposed almost 750,000 cubic feet of storage space at its Hellaby headquarters to meet growing demand from UK e-commerce companies for logistics and fulfilment support. Six e-commerce companies have already taken space in the new facility.

The new warehouse provides secure storage space for up to 6,500 pallets and a team of people available on-demand to support same-day dispatch of goods ordered before 4 pm. Parseq has automated large parts of its fulfilment processes to minimise costs for clients and integrated its warehouse management system with more than 60 e-commerce platforms — including eBay, Etsy, and Shopify — to automatically trigger shipping requests.

Parseq has opened its new facility to serve the growing number of small and medium-sized e-commerce companies operating in South Yorkshire and across the UK. More than a quarter (27 per cent) of UK retail sales were made online in 2024, and the rise of online shopping has driven an almost tenfold increase in UK e-commerce startups over the last decade. 73,000 new e-commerce businesses were registered at Companies House in 2024, more than 800 of which were based in South Yorkshire.

The facility is located near the M1/M18 interchange in an area of South Yorkshire that is now a significant logistics hub. Parseq’s proximity to distribution centres operated by Royal Mail and other courier companies provides a strategic location in the centre of the UK. From here, couriers can reach 95 per cent of the UK population within a 4.5-hour drive.

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Craig Naylor-Smith, CEO at Parseq, said: “The UK has become a nation of online shopkeepers, with growing numbers of online retail specialists in South Yorkshire and across the country. These are often small businesses, succeeding online but struggling for time and space to fulfil orders quickly.”

“With this new facility and the technology that underpins it, we offer a fast, flexible and affordable way for e-commerce companies to deliver any number of orders without expanding and hiring more staff, and without the complex and costly contracts that are common in warehousing and fulfilment.”

Parseq previously used its warehouse space to store millions of sensitive documents for public-sector organisations and major financial institutions. It continues to provide document storage, management, and digitisation services at its facilities in Rotherham, Runcorn, and Lisburn.

Rothbiz reported in 2023 that a Belfast-based third party logistics operator that expanded into Rotherham had gone into administration. Selazar provided e-commerce fulfilment services and opened a 26,000 sq ft warehouse operation in October 2022 in partnership with Parseq.

Parseq website

Images: Parseq

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News: Plans approved at £24m Rotherham development

Plans are progressing for a 250,000 sq ft development in a popular commercial location in Rotherham.

A logistics firm has already signed up to take 85,000 sq ft of warehouse space.

Outline approval was secured in 2021 for Network Space's £24m industrial development at Vector 31 at Waleswood, close to Junction 31 of the M1.

Vector 31 West is being created on a 8.8 hectare parcel of land on the west side of Mansfield Road (A618). The site is opposite to the exisitng Vector 31 development and is next to Gulliver's Valley, Greencore and over the road from LuK.

The site has been backfilled following open cast coal mining operations and development platforms have already been created.

The latest reserved matters application relates to landscaping on the site as conditions were attached to the outline permission to address the development's proximity to overnight accommodation at Gulliver's Valley and the greenbelt.

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The application relates to the plot area of Area 1 only and advanced structural planting for the wider site. Details of a drainage scheme and an arboricultural impact assessment have also been signed off.

Separate reserved matters applications will be submitted to secure details of layout, scale, appearance, siting and landscaping to other development plots.

Agents for the scheme, Knight Frank, have produced a marketing brochure which shows that the largest unit on the site is already pre-let.

The brochure shows that "an international logistics firm" has agreed to take the 85,000 sq ft Unit 1 at Vector 31 West.

The pre-let leaves potential occupiers with high grade industrial / warehouse units built to modern specification. The scheme is suitable for B1, B2 and B8 industrial / distribution uses and will provide units from 16,500 to 42,000 sq ft.

When the outline plans were submitted they estimated that the development could create in excess of 500 jobs once completed.

Network Space website

Images: Network Space

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News: Logistics firm enters administration

Carlton Forest 3PL Ltd, a logistics firm with a significant warehouse operation in Rotherham, has gone into administration.

James Lumb and Howard Smith from Interpath Advisory were appointed joint administrators to Carlton Forest 3PL Ltd and Green Forest Solutions LLP on 25 March 2024, and to Carlton Forest Group Holdings Limited on 28 March 2024.

Based in Bawtry, Carlton Forest 3PL Ltd is an award-winning warehousing, distribution and logistics business. Employing 90 people, the company operates over 1.2m sq ft of warehouse space across four sites in Bawtry, Worksop, Tuxhill and at Maltby in Rotherham.

Carlton Forest took on the former Wincanton depot on Rotherham Road in 2020. It had been vacant for over ten years having previously operated as a chilled distribution centre for retailers such as Sainsbury's and Tesco.

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Administrators said that, in common with a number of other companies operating in the third party logistics sector, Carlton Forest 3PL had been battling industry and wider economic headwinds, including rising costs, significant excess warehouse capacity in the market and decreasing storage rates.

With pressure on the company’s cashflow increasing, the directors sought to undertake a review of their options, including sale and investment options. However, when a solvent solution could not be found, they took the difficult decision to seek the appointment of administrators.

James Lumb, managing director at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator, said: “We are seeing a lot of businesses in UK logistics which are facing similar issues to Carlton Forest, driven by new warehouse capacity hitting the market over recent years, and the general destocking of the UK consumer economy as Covid-related supply chain disruption has subsided.

“Carlton Forest, like many of its peers in the market, had grown to meet demand and this has had the effect of increasing its overheads. Unfortunately, however, the race to the bottom on pricing and the loss of a key customer ultimately contributed to Carlton Forest’s inability to keep trading.

“Our immediate priority has been to work with employees, suppliers and customers to repatriate stock as quickly as possible, minimising disruption to customers as best we can.”

Images: Google Maps

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News: Logistics firm in administration

A Belfast-based third party logistics operator that only expanded into Rotherham last year has gone into administration.

Headquartered in Belfast and with facilities in Warwickshire, Rotherham and County Antrim, Selazar is a third party logistics (3pl) operator providing e-commerce fulfilment services, primarily for medium-sized and bespoke retailers throughout the UK.

Stuart Irwin and David Pike from Interpath Advisory were appointed joint administrators to Selazar Limited on 21 September 2023.

Admomistrators said that, in common with a number of other companies across the e-fulfilment sector, in recent times Selazar had seen significant inflation across its fixed cost base. This, coupled with the highly competitive nature of the market, had led to liquidity challenges.

In response to mounting cashflow pressures, the directors sought to explore their options including marketing the business for sale on an accelerated business. However, with no solvent outcome available, the directors took the difficult decision to seek the appointment of administrators.

Immediately following their appointment, the administrators sold the company’s assets, including its Intellectual Property and the Selazar trading platform, to Petra Financial Technologies LLC and MPN Technologies Ltd, entities within the Petra Group associated with the incumbent lender.

The business ceased to trade on the appointment of the joint administrators and the majority of the company’s 54 staff have been made redundant. Customers’ stock is currently held in warehouses formerly used by the company.

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Stuart Irwin, managing director at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator, said: “The logistics and e-fulfilment sector is currently experiencing a number of headwinds including rising costs and softening demand in the wake of fragile consumer confidence.

“Due to the cessation of trade and the sale of the assets, no further orders can or will be fulfilled by the Company, its warehouse partners or the purchaser. Customers are therefore advised to contact our team as a matter of urgency to make arrangements for the collection of stock.”

Irwin added: “As a matter of priority, we will also be providing support to those members of staff impacted by redundancy, including providing them with the information required to submit claims to the Redundancy Payments Office.”

Selazar opened a new 26,000 sq ft warehouse operation at Hellaby in Rotherham in October 2022. Operated in partnership with business processing outsourcing firm, Parseq, the aim was to increase its reach across the north of the UK. Selazar said at the time that up to 50 local jobs could be created as a result of the warehouse opening.

The business was founded in Belfast in 2018 and secured £20m from a large global investment group in 2021 to help the company to fast track its global expansion.

Selazar website

Images: Selazar

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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: Rotherham set to become DPD "green" town

DPD has confirmed that Rotherham is to be one of the first green towns, with the leading parcel delivery firm to introduce an all-electric delivery service.

In October 2020, DPD announced plans to create 25 all-electric towns and cities in the UK by 2025. It is now providing an all-electric delivery service to ten UK towns and cities and has boosted the target to 30 - with Rotherham now set to become all-electric by the end of 2023.

To-date, DPD has invested over £90m on all-electric vehicles in the UK, including the most recent order of 1,000 Ford E-Transit vans in May 2022, which will take DPD's electric vehicle fleet to over 2,500 in total.

The company, which hasn't bought a diesel van since summer 2020, expects to deliver 26 million parcels this year on electric vehicles, a saving of 7,200,000kg of CO2.

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Elaine Kerr, DPD UK CEO, commented, "I'm absolutely delighted to confirm that we now have 10 UK towns and cities being delivered by an all-electric DPD fleet. One of our big aims is to be the UK's most sustainable delivery company and by the end of 2023, we will have over 5,000 EVs on the road and 30 urban centres delivered on all-electric vehicles.

"Since opening the UK's first all-electric parcel depot in Westminster in 2018, we have grown our electric fleet year on year, despite some of the issues that have held us back, such as the lack of righthand drive EVs for the UK market. We are now seeing improved availability of larger electric vans, which is what we need. As a result, it is fantastic to be able to extend our original pledge to 30 locations and two years earlier than planned.

"By targeting major town and city centres with our electric vehicles, we can make a significant difference to emissions in those locations and help improve air quality where it is most needed. In addition to buying the vehicles, and investing in charging infrastructure, we continue to optimise our routing and operation, to create the smartest possible delivery system and reduce our overall miles per parcel."

DPD's local depot is at Chapeltown in Sheffield which was one of the firm's 15 original green delivery locations.

DPD website

Images: DPD

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News: Rotherham logistics operation proves vital for Ukraine aid mission

Logistics experts, Dependall, are supporting a massive operation to get aid to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

Dependall are supporting the charity, Rapid Relief Team (RRT), to provide emergency food and personal care supplies after the charity raised a staggering £1m for its "Operation 322," a campaign involving volunteers in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Sweden coming together to provide much needed aid to Ukrainian refugees.

With essential food and personal care products in high demand, RRT loaded trucks with family food boxes filled with non-perishable food items, care kits equipped with personal care products and baby care kits containing formula and nappies, bottled water and blankets.

The money raised meant that RRT secured funding to donate 28 truckloads of essential aid.

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Using their experience and expertise in logistics and storage, Dependall Ltd are supporting this response by allowing RRT to use its warehouse in Swinton, Rotherham.

By doing so, RRT are able to use around 100 pallets for the storage and redistribution of much needed essentials, with a production line set up to build food boxes and care packages once a month to be sent to Ukraine.

Bob Oliver, commercial director at Dependall Ltd, said: "We have a long-standing commitment to support causes within our local community and those that are currently impacting communities around the world.

"Operation 322 is making a huge difference to those who have been displaced by the conflict in Ukraine, and we wanted to support RRT’s cause.

"By enabling RRT to use our warehouse facilities in Swinton, we can help them store and redistribute essential food and care packages to those that need them most. "

RRT website
Dependall website

Images: RRT

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News: Further details of massive Rotherham warehouse development

Further fine details for a huge distribution centre development alongside the M18 motorway in Rotherham have been submitted.

Outline plans were approved for "Interchange Park" on former greenbelt land at Hellaby in 2020 and applicants said that it could be home to over 1,000 jobs. Since then, Panattoni, the largest industrial real estate developer in Europe, has bought the Cumwell Lane site and gained approval for changes to the plans.

A reserved matters planning application was approved last year for a 715,000 sq ft speculative development, now-called Panattoni Park Rotherham, consisting of the 630,000 sq ft facility (a maximum of 21 metres high) and a smaller 85,000 sq ft facility (15 metres).

Following continued dialogue with planners at Rotherham Council, the latest application focuses on appearance and landscaping.

A new Noise Assessment and Visual Impact Assessment have been submitted.

To improve screening, the developers have reviewed levels across the site and are proposing to reduce overall site levels by 0.74 metres in the vicinity of the largest unit. The layout of the smaller unit has been revised to "facilitate a deeper landscaping belt" and higher bunds of 2 - 3 metres are designed to improve the level of screening from Bateman Road and Cumwell Lane.

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An extended acoustic fence is not deemed neccessary in planning terms but developers have offered to extend the fence to offer additional mitigation to nearby residents. Developers also say that the proposed landscaping scheme will effectively screen the HGV parking and service yard.

The proposed steel frame buildings are set to have metal cladding in a palette of silver/metallic/grey, with feature entrances and glazing to the office elements. New details include removing the darker bands to reflect a lighter palette.

As already approved in previous plans, vehicular access to the new units is to be via Cumwell Lane which is off the A631. A dedicated access road will be provided to both units from Cumwell Lane for HGVs.

The detailed scheme includes a total of 490 car parking spaces, of which 99 will provide for electric charging and 25 will be provided as accessible spaces. An additional 189 spaces for HGV parking is also proposed. Parking for 180 bicycles will be provided across the site.

Letting agents are M1 Agency, Legat Owen and Knight Frank.

Panatonni website

Images: Panatonni / Vista 3d

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News: Updated plans for 715,000 sq ft speculative logistics development in Rotherham

Another set of updated plans for a huge distribution centre development alongside the M18 motorway in Rotherham have been submitted.

Outline plans were approved for "Interchange Park" at Hellaby in 2020 and applicants said that it could be home to over 1,000 jobs. Since then, Panattoni, the largest industrial real estate developer in Europe, has bought the Cumwell Lane site and gained approval for changes to the plans.

Now Panattoni has submitted a reserved matters planning application to Rotherham Council for a 715,000 sq ft speculative development, now-called Panattoni Park Rotherham, consisting of the 630,000 sq ft facility (a maximum of 21 metres high) and a smaller 85,000 sq ft facility (15 metres).

The 40-acre Panattoni Park Rotherham is located in an established distribution location, immediately adjacent to junction 1 of the M18 and just two miles from junction 32 of the M1.

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The plans provide more details on the size, layout and appearance of the buildings, along with a landscape strategy and details of access within the site.

Both are proposed to be steel frame buildings with metal cladding in a palette of silver/metallic/grey, with feature entrances and glazing to the office elements.

As already approved in previous plans, vehicular access to the new units is to be via Cumwell Lane which is off the A631. A dedicated access road will be provided to both units from Cumwell Lane for HGVs.

The detailed scheme includes a total of 490 car parking spaces, of which 99 will provide for electric charging and 25 will be provided as accessible spaces. An additional 189 spaces for HGV parking is also proposed. Parking for 180 bicycles will be provided across the site.

Dan Burn, Development Director for the North West and Yorkshire at Panattoni, said: "We look forward to working with all stakeholders through the planning application process with the aim of bringing forward this nationally significant development."

Local occupiers include Great Bear, Clipper Logistics, DX and FedEx. Letting agents are M1 Agency, Legat Owen and Knight Frank.

Panattoni website

Images: Panattoni

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News: Plans updated for a new Rotherham unit for global logistics firm

Plans for an expanding logistics firm to take a large purpose built unit in Rotherham have been updated.

Vector 31 West is being created at Waleswood on a parcel of land on the west side of Mansfield Road close to Junction 31 of the M1.

Network Space recently secured outline consent for the £24m industrial development and is advancing plans for up to 254,000 sq ft of B2 and B8 employment space on the 22-acre site.

The development could create in excess of 500 jobs once completed.

A detailed application ealier this year showed that an unnamed logistics company had asked Network Space to deliver a bespoke 85,000 sq ft unit.

A new application, drawn up by Spawforths, explains that the earlier application was "formally withdrawn on 29 November 2021, due to technical issues arising from the site investigation monitoring. As such, an amended scheme has been prepared and submitted for a revised location albeit the specification of the building remains unchanged.

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The plans add: "The Unit is intended to be occupied by a logistics occupier who are globally recognised. The company is a leading specialist for trade related services including transport logistics, global ecommerce and distribution. The requirements of this end user have been incorporated into the layout and design of Unit 1."

It adds that the end user provides "import and export, fulfilment services and parcel distribution" and states that this unit alone could provide space for 200 jobs.

The parking facilities onsite would comprise of car parking (73 spaces, including four disabled and 15 electric charging spaces), HGV parking (16 spaces), LGV parking (seven spaces), van parking (26 spaces all of which will be electric charging spaces) and cycle parking (eight spaces).

The site, next to Gulliver's Valley, Greencore and over the road from LuK, has been backfilled following open cast coal mining operations and development platforms have already been created. Some mitigation is proposed, inlcuding acoustic barriers located along the west of the service yard.

Since traffic lights now are being used full time at the nearby junction 31 of the M1, a transport assessment submitted with the plans demonstrates that, whilst the proposed development does constitute an increase in overall traffic levels generated by the whole Vector 31 West Site as a whole during the critical weekday peak periods, the additional traffic levels impacting M1 Junction 31, "does not result in the degradation or worsening of the operation of the junction when compared to the level of operation already considered and approved at outline stage."

Network Space website

Images: Network Space / Harris Partnership

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News: Leading developer buys Hellaby site

Panattoni, the largest industrial real estate developer in Europe, is taking forward plans for a huge distribution centre development alongside the M18 motorway in Rotherham - its biggest-ever speculative logistics building in the UK.

Outline plans were approved for "Interchange Park" at Hellaby last year and applicants said that it could be home to over 1,000 jobs.

Those applicants, Stretton Property Group, has now sold the 40 acre site to Panattoni for an undisclosed sum.

Founded in the USA in 1986, Panattoni has grown to become the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer.

The outline plans enable a 630,000 sq ft facility to be built along with a smaller 85,000 sq ft facility by junction 1 of the M18. Panattoni said that it is aiming to submit a reserved matters planning application in the next few weeks, with a view to beginning construction in the first quarter of 2022.

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The development is part of Panattoni’s commitment to a significant speculative development programme in the UK in 2021 in response to strong demand from occupiers for immediately available space. The acquisition of Interchange Park increases the size of Panattoni’s current speculative development programme to around 4.2 million sq ft across eight locations across the North and Midlands, the largest of which are at South Normanton, Derby, Northampton and Crewe.

Dan Burn, development director for the North West and Yorkshire at Panattoni, said: "Our continued appetite for speculative development reflects the strength of demand from occupiers for immediately available space. In the first quarter of this year half of all take-up in the logistics sector was of speculative developments, driven by demand from e-commerce companies. And in the last 12 months alone, we have let more than 6 million sq ft of space.

"Having let our speculative Wakefield 515 development in May, we are delighted to have acquired this strategic site and look forward to bringing this nationally significant scheme forward over the coming months."

Letting agents at Interchange Park are M1 Agency, Legat Owen and Knight Frank.

Panattoni website

Images: Panattoni

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News: DX network expands with new depot in Rotherham

DX, a leading provider of delivery solutions, including parcel freight, secure courier, 2-Man and logistics services, is pleased to announce the opening of a new depot in Rotherham, the first in a programme of multiple such openings planned over the next two years.

The 20,000 sq ft depot is located at Hellaby Industrial Estate, and will serve the Group's Express division, which specialises in secure, next-day parcel delivery. The new depot will provide both the capacity for further growth in South Yorkshire and allow for enhanced levels of service to local customers.

The opening is the latest step in DX's £10m capital expenditure programme, which is investing in sites, technology and equipment. As well as the Rotherham site, a new depot will be opened in Glasgow in the coming months, and further depot openings are planned over the next two years. DX sees significant growth opportunities in the parcels market for DX Express, and is seeking to expand market share by focussing on its offering of secure, tracked deliveries backed by strong locally based customer service.

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Lloyd Dunn, Chief Executive Officer at DX (Group) plc, said: "This new site in Rotherham increases our presence in South Yorkshire, and shows our confidence in the continued growth potential for the business.

"We see opportunities for DX Express to gain greater market share in the parcels market by focussing on our core strengths, and intend to open further new sites in the next two years to continue its development."

DX website

Images: DX

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News: Planning consent for M18 development

Stretton Property Group has successfully secured outline planning consent for over 720,000 sq ft of prime industrial opportunities at Interchange Park, J1 of the M18 in Rotherham. The development has the capacity to create over 1,000 regional jobs.

Rothbiz reported last month that the plans were set for approval after information regarding the transport impact and access was updated.

The planning consent granted to Stretton Property Group from Rotherham Council will bring forward a new logistics warehouse development to address chronic regional shortages of prime, Grade A industrial accommodation to meet the continued high levels of demand across the sector. Stretton has appointed the industrial agency teams at CBRE and M1 to market the scheme.

The 40 acre Cumwell Lane site, located strategically at the tip of the M1/M18 triangle, has outline planning consent to deliver up to 720,000 sq ft of B2, B8 and E(g) employment space. The scheme can accommodate a range of Grade A industrial warehouse unit sizes, suitable to a variety of occupiers. The units will be designed to incorporate office accommodation and extensive parking.

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Agents say that the development comes at a time where there is an acute lack of supply across the region and as a result, the scheme is expected to attract a mix of regional and national occupiers looking to be strategically located within Yorkshire.

Edward Chantler, Group CEO at Stretton Property Group, said; "We are delighted to have secured consent to unlock this strategic, job creating site and to facilitate the delivery of much needed stock for the Yorkshire industrial market. The regional logistics sector continues to go from strength to strength and we are pleased to bring Interchange Park to the market to deliver a range of opportunities for occupiers in South Yorkshire."

Mike Baugh, senior director of industrial agency at CBRE, added: "It's fantastic news that Stretton Property Group has secured outline planning for Interchange Park. Yorkshire will represent around 30% of all the UK logistics take-up this year due to its appeal to a wide range of occupiers. As a result, we are experiencing severe shortages of big box supply in the region and Interchange Park is hitting the market at the right time to satisfy occupier demand. The site's key location and the potential range of accommodation opportunities make the development an excellent choice for a wide variety of occupiers."

Interchange Park website

Images: Stretton / CBRE

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News: DHL planning second Rotherham depot

DHL Parcel UK looks to have wrapped up a deal to take on a large speculatively-built commercial unit in the south of Rotherham.

DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. DHL Parcel UK is the rebranded UK Mail business that was acquired by Deutsche Post DHL Group in 2016. The UK arm has a national network of more than 50 sites and 2,000 vehicles and last year announced plans to invest £6.7m in an upgrade to its fleet of trucks and trailers to gain additional handling capacity to support future growth.

The firm has now submitted a planning application for new signage for a new 78,458 sq ft unit built in Dinnington.

The project, called Atomic 31, has seen Trebor Developments, working in conjunction with its partner Hillwood, deliver a single unit on the remaining land at the former Dinnington Colliery.

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St Paul's Developments plc and The Homes and Communities Agency (now Homes England) completed a development agreement in 2014 to bring the second phase of the former Dinnington Colliery site forward for development after the success of Phase 1 which was developed and sold off in the mid to late 2000's by the then regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward.

Trebor Developments took the remaining 5.5 acres and built a speculative development with the potential to be used for B8 use (storage and distribution) or B2 general industrial use. It is being marketed by Knight Frank, CPP and CBRE.

DHL has also applied for an licence to operate 15 trucks from the site.

The delivery firm's fist Rotherham depot is at Templeborough where UK Mail relocated their South Yorkshire operation from Hellaby in 2011.

The sinking of Dinnington Colliery began in 1902 and coal started to be raised in 1905. By 1911 the colliery was providing employment for 2,000 people. It closed in 1992 resulting in 1,000 job losses. The HCA estimated that a regenerated site could create 2,400 new jobs.

DHL Parcel UK website

Images: DHL / Lakeside Signs

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News: Clipper's Rotherham site to serve Adnams

A new partnership between Clipper Logistics and cask ale brewery, Adnams will be serviced from Clipper's Rotherham warehouse.

Clipper Logistics is a retail solutions provider which has its headquarters in Leeds. Its logistics network supports key customers such as Asda, John Lewis, Harvey Nichols, ASOS, M&S and Pretty Little Things.

As part of the new deal, Clipper will provide end-to-end supply chain management, packing, storage and online order fulfilment capabilities for the award-winning brewer, distiller and retailer.

The location of the 670 year old Adnams brewery in Suffolk has led to restrictions in carrier choice, and as a result, has impacted the daily cut-off order time for customers.

Clipper's integrated solution based at Hellaby in Rotherham will allow Adnams to extend their operational window, offering customers a later cut-off order time for next day delivery.

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John Welsh, general manager, Rotherham for Clipper Logistics, said: "As premium and craft beer consumption continues to rise, we are delighted to partner with Adnams, offering them the sophisticated storage and supply chain facilities that they need. We are pleased that our "agility matched by ability" ethos resonates with Adnams, enabling us to address their current operational challenges, and provide them with the foundation for future growth."

The solution also offers Adnams increased growth opportunities by providing additional storage facilities to alleviate the space constraints Adnams had been experiencing with their existing in-house solution. Clipper's Rotherham location also offers Adnams the ability to operate under bond as volume sales increase.

Charlie Darton, head of marketing for Adnams, said: "Clipper's reputation for innovative and industry-leading logistics solutions meant that when we were looking to expand our offering, they were an obvious choice. By relocating to Rotherham with Clipper, we have not only been able to offer our customers a later cut-off time for their orders, but we are also now in a position to grow our operations. The scale and efficiency they are providing us with is ensuring that our ever-increasing customer demands are being met."

Clipper Logistics website
Adnams wesbite

Images: Google Maps

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News: New recruits at fast-growing Pricecheck

Award-winning firm, Pricecheck Toiletries, has taken on three new members of staff as it continues to grow from its premises at Beighton Link Business Park in Rotherham.

Pricecheck is a leading supplier of international branded consumer goods, working predominately in the health and beauty sector, dealing with discounted clearance stock. Growth in sales has risen from £40m to £55m in the last two years. During this period staff numbers grew from 80 to 130 and export sales increased by 69%.

Tracy Fox-Bramall joins in the newly created role, head of commercial operations. Tracy brings a combination of supplier and wholesale experience, her most recent position being at P&H Direct. Prior to this she held numerous cross functional positions at Mondelez including supply chain channel lead, national accounts, field sales and training roles. Tracy helped shape numerous strategies in both field sales and supply and Pricecheck looks forward to Tracy developing the sales team further to achieve £200m sales turnover by 2025.

Marketing and communication manager, Catherine King spent nearly nine years with local manufacturer Gripple Ltd. Catherine has successfully organised international events, trade shows, developed websites and launched new products during her career. As an alumni of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Catherine has already begun work on innovative and exciting plans for the marketing team in 2018.

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Alicia Rudd, HR advisor moves to Pricecheck from Liberator UK. Alicia changed careers to HR in 2014 after completing training with the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development. Since her first HR role, Alicia has shown excellent acuity for recruitment and procedural HR, key targets for Pricecheck as the company grows in 2018 and beyond.

Celebrating 40 years in business this year, the second generation family owned business was established in 1978 by the parents of Mark Lythe and Debbie Harrison, who now run the company as joint managing directors. Officially opened in 2016, the new premises matched the firm's ambitious future growth plans, with the 115,000 sq ft warehouse able to accommodate 40% more than previously achievable and offices that tripled in size.

Currently, women account for an estimated 47% of people working in wholesale, but only 11% are senior level managers or directors. At Pricecheck half of the senior positions are held by women.

The joint managing directors over the company in 2007, and have seen the number of senior women in buying, sales, HR and business development roles double.

Debbie Harrison, joint MD at Pricecheck, said: "We all have different strengths, weaknesses, backgrounds, and experiences. These differences enhance creativity, help our teams to make smart business decisions, and better serve our customers across the globe."

Pricecheck website

Images: Pricecheck

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News: ETA Enclosures invests in Rotherham site

Italian manufacturer ETA Enclosures has provided a big vote of confidence and invested £100,000 in its UK logistics centre in Rotherham.

Headquarted between Milan and Lake Como, the company specialises in steel sheet, stainless steel and extruded aluminium production and specifically in the design, production and distribution of unwired electrical cabinets.

The investment in the Templeborough site provides new training and showroom facilities along with extended offices to accommodate additional internal sales staff.

Eta Enclosures UK Limited is one of two subsidiaries and was established in 1998. In 2008, the company took space at the Ignite development close to Magna. The purpose built logistics centre stocks over 10,000 products for immediate shipment and fully assembled cabinets with customer specific accessories can be fitted in less than 72 hours.

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Mark Greaves, general manager for the ETA in the UK, said: "This is a big vote of confidence in our long-term economic plan. The investment has created a world class training and showroom facility of 10,700 sq ft providing our distributor partners and customers with the opportunity to better understand our products and services. In addition to this, we have created a brand new office extension of 14,000 sq ft that will provide space for new staff expansion during 2016/17."

A programme of product training awareness courses will start in October and will include a background history of the Italian parent company which was established by the Turati family in 1975. ETA SPA is a major global supplier of quality enclosure products and solutions with distribution in more than 40 countries.

It is not so good news for the Spanish-owned enclosure manufacturer, Eldon, whose Rotherham facility at Hellaby has been closed with the loss of around 30 jobs as the company shifts production to Romania. The vacated 40,500 sq ft property is up for rent with Colliers.

ETA Enclosures website

Images: ETA

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