Davies Turner has acquired a new development site in the English Midlands and will build a 140,000 sq ft multi-user logistics hub.

The UK freight forwarder said the new hub on the edge of Atherstone will offer quick access to both the M1 and M6 motorways and rival in size the company's largest logistics hub at Avonmouth, near Bristol, adding to Davies Turner's nationwide warehousing and logistics network, which amounts to over a million square feet.

While the specification of the building has yet to be finalised, Davies Turner noted that it will feature a high bay fully racked area, with a top location level of 17 m and an eaves height of 15 m, suitable for VNA forklift operations.

The site will be able to hold 18,000 standard pallets, leaving around 20,000 sq ft of spare locations for stacking cartons or pallets by the ground floor pick spaces.

190,000 sq ft of mezzanine floors will be incorporated, with an average area of 47,000 sq ft for each floor with conveyors, barcode readers, and cameras to assist in automation.

The mezzanines will be suitable for the sortation, rework, and fulfilment services required for the company’s growing e-commerce activities and online retail logistics business.

The English freight forwarder added that there will be 15 loading docks and 2 level access doors providing access to the warehouse, as well as room to park 30 heavy goods vehicles.

The new hub will become Davies Turner's fourth major logistics facility in the Midlands, with five other regional distribution centres at Dartford, Bristol, Heathrow, Manchester, and Cumbernauld in Scotland, and another 10 smaller branches supporting them.

"This will add to our very large freehold property portfolio that is self-funded in a clear and ongoing demonstration of the company’s willingness to invest in the future of our business," said Philip Stephenson, Davies Turner Plc chairman.

"The development marks the next step towards growing our logistics business and freeing up some space at our other facilities in the Midlands for general freight," he added, noting that the company aims to have the new facility open in Spring 2023.