// The Co-op receives green light for Biggleswade warehouse development application
// It aims to support its growth plans in London, the south and south east
// The warehouse will open early 2022, creating up to 1200 jobs
The Co-op has secured planning consent for a new 661,000sq ft distribution centre in Bedfordshire to support its growth plans in London, the south and south east.
The warehouse is forecast to open in early 2022, creating up to 1200 jobs.
It will be located at Symmetry Park in Biggleswade and will serve the grocer’s existing sites in the region.
The site was purchased by property developer DB Symmetry in 2017, and contracts on full planning consent with Co-op were originally exchanged in November 2018.
The Co-op has secured a 20-year lease on the site.
“The new site will provide greater scale while future-proofing our operations,” Co-op supply chain and logistics director Andy Perry said.
“The move will reduce road miles and overall supply chain costs while supporting our new and existing stores in the south and south east of England by having more of our products closer to our members and customers and the communities in which they live and work.”
“The infrastructure and site selection will deliver greater agility, scale and efficiency – improving service and availability at existing stores while building capacity to support our store investment programme and ambitions for continued growth.”
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