DIY retailer, B&Q has announced a huge multi-million pound investment in Swindon with plans to build a new distribution centre.
The retailer plans to open a new 796,649 sq ft (74,010 sq m) distribution centre just north of Honda’s factory in developer Gazeley’s G Park, creating around 550 jobs for the local area. The new site represents an investment of £77.4m and will include key environmental initiatives.
The details of its distribution strategy are a result of a review leading to a number of proposed changes to its current logistics network. These changes will lead to the establishment of a new regional distribution centre in the South for high volume products, bringing product closer to the stores therefore improving customer service as well as reducing transport miles, transport costs and CO2 emissions.
The new distribution centre is expected to commence operating from July 2011 and will be fully operational by January 2012. It is envisaged that these plans will also generate approximately 250 new jobs at B&Q’s Worksop distribution centre.
As a result of this new development, employees based in existing centres in Preston Brook, Coventry, Chepstow, Swindon and Middleton all run by third party supplier partners are being briefed today of the proposal to withdraw B&Q activity from these sites. These proposed changes will take place in 2011 and will be fully completed by January 2012. Collective and individual consultation for all of these employees will shortly commence and their employers will be looking at ways of minimising redundancies.
