Lidl plans regional distribution centre at Logistics North

Lidl has acquired a 43.7-acre site at Harworth’s Logistics North side near Bolton and plans to develop a new regional distribution centre on the site.

Adjacent to Junction 4 of the M61, Logistics North is the North West’s largest live commercial development, with outline planning consent in place for 4 million sq ft of commercial space.

The new regional distribution facility will cater for the retailer’s expansion in the North West; once complete, the facility is expected to deliver up to 500 new jobs to the region. Lidl UK will work closely with Bolton Council to develop its plans for the site, with a planning application likely to be forthcoming later in 2017.

The deal is the sixth at Logistics North in the past three years, following freehold land sales to Aldi, MBDA, Joy Global and Exeter Property Group and Harworth’s forward funding agreement with M&G to build two large commercial units on their behalf.

Phil Wilson, managing director of Capital Growth at Harworth Group plc, said:“Logistics North has established itself as one of the North of England’s leading distribution locations and we are naturally delighted to welcome a leading company like Lidl to Logistics North. Our extensive work in both remediating the site and masterplanning it for employment uses continues to yield results for both Harworth and the site’s occupiers. We look forward to welcoming further occupiers to the site in 2017.”

Commenting on the purchase, Adrienne Howells, Lidl UK’s head of warehouse expansion, said: “With more British customers choosing Lidl as their family supermarket we are laser focused on the sustainable growth of our business. Once again we are delighted to reveal plans for another Lidl distribution centre in Great Britain, bringing investment to Bolton, new jobs and additional support to our existing and future stores in the north of England.”

The deal comes just weeks after the German discounter took 187,000 sq ft at DP World’s London Gateway and 628,000 sq ft on a 38-acre site at Verdion’s iPort, Doncaster.

It is thought the retailer paid £22.5 million for the site. Marketing agents for Logistics North are Bilfinger GVA, JLL and B8 Real Estate.