Palletforce’s Burton upon Trent SuperHub has been named as one of 18 shortlisted sites that remain in the running to help deliver the expansion at Heathrow Airport.
Part of the EV Cargo group, the UK’s largest privately-owned logistics business, the state-of-the-art Palletforce SuperHub is perfectly placed in the centre of the UK in a strategic location for national coverage.
And, with a network of 100 quality members covering every UK postcode on a daily basis, the Palletforce express distribution network is the ideal partner to deliver Britain’s largest infrastructure project.
The 620 sq ft SuperHub offers 24-hour freight sortation and parking for 450 trucks at its 38-acre site. Operated by Palletforce, it benefits from award-winning, sector-leading technology – making it one of the most efficient drive-through distribution centres in Europe.
Alongside the SuperHub, Palletforce member Immediate Transport has its Iver Hub, just minutes from Heathrow, also in the shortlist.
The sites have been selected from a longlist of 65, all of which were visited during a nationwide tour which concluded in the summer of 2018. In the autumn, the 18 sites shortlisted will now have the opportunity to pitch to the airport’s bosses for their chance to become one of the final four construction centres, to be announced early next year, ahead of work starting in 2021.
The offsite construction centres will help to deliver Britain’s new runway, bringing jobs and economic opportunities as Heathrow looks to construct as much of the expanded airport offsite as possible.
Emma Gilthorpe, Heathrow executive director for expansion, said: “Logistics hubs are integral to harnessing the skills the UK needs post-Brexit. We are working with other major infrastructure projects to see if they might also benefit from these hubs, creating a bright, new future for the UK’s construction sector. One in which we’re better utilising new technology and offsite techniques to spread the benefits of major projects like expansion nationwide.”
Michael Conroy, Palletforce chief executive, said: “Palletforce has continually invested in infrastructure and our SuperHub is a unique asset that sets us apart from all other UK distribution networks. It has the capacity to both create growth for our members and to take advantage of commercial opportunities, and we’re excited to be in the final UK-wide shortlist for the Heathrow logistics hubs. Being selected would create significant jobs for the local region and drive growth for our members by creating further long-term commercial opportunities.”
