Boohoo to close national distribution centre in Burnley
Online fast fashion retailer Boohoo, now known as Debenhams Group, is closing its 3.1 million ft2 national distribution centre campus in Burnley in the Northwest with the loss of more than 1,200 jobs.
By Liza Helps, Property Editor, Logistics Matters
THE BELEAGUERED company established itself in Burnley in 2010 and owns and operates several facilities on the Heasandford Industrial Estate in the town totalling some 3.1 million ft2.
It will consolidate its operations at its Sheffield distribution hub following a 17% revenue dip in 2024. The move is part of the company’s restructuring which it announced in August this year which also includes the sale of its Prettylittlething.com brand as well as the sale of a state of the art facility in Pennsylvania in the USA.
The Burnley site will close in 2026.
The main Sheffield distribution hub is operated by Clipper Logistics/GXO. The 615,000 ft2 building, known as Sheffield615, was taken on a 10-year lease from investor developer Logicor in 2018. It underwent a reported £150 million retrofit in 2023 to implement automation throughout the facility aiming at a throughput of some 40,000 items per hour.
In addition in 2021 Clipper/GXO secured a five year lease on Exeter Property Group’s Sheffield 336 building on Europa Way, Tinsley, at a rent in excess of £6 per ft2. The move was to fulfil the Boohoo.com contract.
A Debenhams Group spokesperson said: “Following a strategic review, we are proposing the closure of our Burnley distribution centre in early 2026, with operations gradually transferring to Sheffield, which could offer greater capacity and efficiencies.
“This is not a proposal we put forward lightly, but we believe it may be important for the long-term health of the business and for delivering our new strategy.”
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