Solihull-based ProLogis Developments has purchased a vacant 90,000 sq ft warehouse on the Apex Park distribution scheme in Daventry.
It has immediately let it to logistics and distribution services provider Wincanton on a 15-year-lease, for use as a state-of-the-art recycling facility for its emerging solutions sector.
Wincanton - already one of the area’s biggest employers - will carry out preparatory works on the warehouse this month in readiness for the installation of a WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) recycling machine in October, with a view to going live early in 2009.
The facility will be capable of treating up to 100,000 tonnes of WEEE per year – equivalent to more than a million washing machines, nearly 100 million kettles or 715 million mobiles phones, according to Wincanton.
The machine recycles both household and business waste materials, which are broken down into re-usable parts. The cutting edge technology will allow it to recycle around 95 per cent of the waste and dramatically reduce the need for landfill, as well as saving 732,500 miles per annum in road journeys, and around 323,000 tonnes of Co2 emissions.
The machine has been built by German firm MeWa. Only a few such recycling machines are currently in use in the UK, including one at another Wincanton site near Middlesborough, Teeside - the first dedicated facility in the UK. The latest set-up will serve the East Midlands and South England, and underlines Wincanton’s ongoing investment and commitment to the Daventry area, says Simon Ramsell, property development manager (UK & Ireland).
“The recycling operation will initially be staffed by between 40-50 people, and will be expanded over the coming years. We are mainly recruiting new staff, and we’ll have a management team onsite,” he added.
“Our North East operation, at Billingham, opened in February 2006, and has proved very successful as a cleaner, and more efficient, method of dealing with waste. The machine for Daventry will utilise the latest cutting-edge technology and be able to recover even more recyclable materials. In addition, we won’t now have to trunk all the waste up to our facility in the North East, so we will drastically cut down on the number of road miles and the consequent carbon emissions.”
He added: “Wincanton already employs around 900 staff in Daventry alone, and this latest, big, investment underlines not only our continued commitment to the area - which is one of the country’s top logistics locations – but also to the environment.”
Wincanton has leased a 222,885 sq ft ProLogis distribution warehouse on Apex Park for nine years, on behalf of several, mainly drinks manufacturer, clients, and runs a 594,000 sq ft warehouse on the Royal Oak business park for a leading retailer.
Kate Bedson, vice-president development for ProLogis, said: “ProLogis is delighted to have completed this deal with Wincanton, who are a major, existing, customer, on this, one of our most successful developments in the Midlands.
“Our recent investment in the unit adds to our existing investment in Daventry. Occupiers on Apex Park Phases 1 and 2 include Wincanton, Netto, Case New Holland, Whistlestop Discount Stores and JD Wetherspoon.”
She added: “Daventry continues to be an important location for ProLogis, and future investment is planned. We have a healthy, ongoing demand from locally-based companies, and we are proposing a further 45 acres of development, which we expect to generate up to 700 new jobs.”
