DHL has begun constructing its £230m (US$245m) hub in Segro Park Coventry in the UK, which is expected to create over 600 jobs for the area.
The hub is located south of Coventry Airport and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2024. It has been designed to handle over 500,000 items per day and will feature secure bonded storage and customs capabilities to support international e-commerce. To ensure its sustainability, the facility has 7,000m2 of solar panels, EV charging stations for cars and LGVs, LED lighting and landscaping to protect the natural biodiversity of the area. As the facility will double DHL’s handling capacity, it also features mechanization to improve parcel handling. This investment in DHL’s Coventry hub forms part of a £482m (US$515m) investment to facilitate business growth in the UK and is supported by 10 new collection and delivery depots across the UK, and the expansion of 20 more existing sites as well as investment in sustainable transportation.
Peter Fuller, CEO of DHL Parcel UK, said, “We’re excited to see this major project get underway. Coventry’s location makes it a gateway to the rest of the country, 90% of UK postcodes can be reached within four hours so it’s an ideal location for us to be able to provide a fast and high-quality service. Our existing hub and head office are in neighboring Ryton-on-Dunsmore so we’re proud to continue investing in the area, creating new jobs and a blueprint for sustainable development.”
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said, “It’s wonderful news that DHL’s investment is now coming to life on-site here in Coventry and represents a tremendous vote of confidence in the West Midlands for a major global player of DHL’s stature to place themselves at the heart of our rapidly growing logistics sector. This new operation will create 650 jobs and reinforce our region’s reputation as an international trading hub. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this investment will generate for local people in the months and years ahead.”
Andrew Pilsworth, managing director of national logistics, Segro, said, “With planning consent for 3,700,000ft2 of employment space and the infrastructure works nearly complete, we are looking forward to creating another modern, industrial and logistics development at Segro Park Coventry which will drive jobs, inject growth into the local economy and enable the e-commerce services we increasingly use in our daily lives. The start of construction on the first buildings is a key milestone for the site and one we are pleased to share with DHL Parcel as the first occupier.”
