Yodel opens northwest hub

By Liza Helps Property Editor Logistics Matters

THE NEW depot at Tritax’s 1 million ft2 Symmetry Park Merseyside scheme totals 161,900 ft2 and was taken on a 15 year lease.

It features the latest in automation technology and has potential to double Yodel’s capacity in the North West. When fully operational, it will handle thousands of parcels a day serving customers across the region.

Built by GMI Construction, Unit One was the first to be speculatively built at the 120-acre Symmetry Park Merseyside scheme. It targets BREEAM Excellent and an EPC A rating featuring solar panels and EV charging points. It was also built to a net zero carbon standard.

Last week, Tritax secured planning for Unit Two, comprising 272,000 ft2 and a reserved matters planning application has been submitted for Units Three and Four offering 285,000 ft2 and 211,000 ft2 respectively. 

The scheme, on the former Cronton Colliery site, is a key part of Knowsley Council’s Halsnead Garden Village project, the largest combined housing and employment development in the Liverpool City Region, including around 1,600 new homes, more than 22.5 hectares of employment land, a new country park and other green spaces. The project has received £12m funding from the Mayor and  Combined Authority. It is also expected to create 1,146 permanent full-time employment roles and 1,035 construction jobs during the construction phases.

Yodel’s investment in the new site follows a year of record growth for the business as its retail client portfolio has expanded alongside the rapid growth of Yodel’s Customer-to-Customer service, Yodel Direct. Volumes through Yodel’s Out of Home (OOH) network, which provides a convenient way to pick up and drop off parcels at more than 6,000 shops across the UK, more than doubled in the last year.

Gerald Eve and Cushman & Wakefield are joint letting agents for the scheme.

The project team includes UMC Architects, Gerald Eve (planning), Tier Consulting and C4 Projects.