The first tenant has been revealed for a major new logistics hub.
Drinks giant Carlsberg Britvic has agreed a deal for a new 222,000 sq ft warehouse at West Midlands Interchange.
Construction of the facility will begin later this year, ten miles from its current base in Wolverhampton, with Carlsberg Britvic investing £4 million into the work.
Deliveries from the current depot will continue as normal until the new base opens towards the end of next year after which operations and staff will be transferred over.
Carlsberg Britvic was formed last year through the merger of Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company and Britvic in the UK.
The £2 billion West Midlands Interchange scheme is being built at Four Ashes, west of Cannock and junction 12 of the M6.
It will have eight million square feet of logistics and warehouse space across 734 acres of land including 109 acres for two community parks.
There will also be a new link road connecting the project to the A5 and A449. Estimates suggest the estate will create in the region of 8,500 jobs once it is fully operational.
The long-term aim is to move more logistics and freight traffic off the UK’s already congested motorway network and onto the railways including the West Coast Main Line which passes by the site.
It is being led by real estate investor, developer and manager Oxford Properties and Logistics Capital Partners
Carlsberg Britvic chief executive Paul Davies said: “This investment underscores our long-term commitment to strengthening our operations and enhancing service to our customers.
“The new facility will be a massive investment in the region, providing a new base for our depot team in Wolverhampton.
“The West Midlands Interchange provides an ideal location for our new depot, enabling us to future-proof our logistics infrastructure and build for sustainable growth.”
James Markby, managing partner at Logistics Capital Partners, added: “Our agreement with Carlsberg Britvic demonstrates the wider confidence in the strategic success of West Midlands Interchange.
“We are happy that Carlsberg Britvic shares our commitment to sustainability, supporting its long-term sustainability programme.
“West Midlands Interchange is set to become the country’s most significant, rail-served logistics development and will become a crucial component of the UK’s strategic freight network.
“It will be key to decarbonising UK logistics and supporting the country’s wider net zero aspirations. We look forward to announcing more occupiers in future months.”
Robin Everall, head of development at Oxford Properties, said: “Attracting Carlsberg Britvic as the first occupier at West Midlands Interchange is a significant milestone for the project, underlining the quality of the offer we are creating and the importance of its location.
“The bringing together of the UK’s largest multi-beverage supplier and one of the most important logistics developments in the country will deliver a significant boost to the regional and national economy.”
More about Britvic here: https://www.britvic.com/
https://couriernews.co.uk/blog/carlsberg-britvic-first-tenant-at-new-west-midlands-interchange/