By Liza Helps, Property Editor, Logistics Matters

DPD IS looking to build a 63,000 ft2 sustainable parcel distribution hub at the proposed 892,000 ft2 development for which planning has yet to be submitted.

Located adjacent to the A14 Bar Hill Interchange at Junction 25 of the newly upgraded A14, Tritax Park Queens’ Cambridge spans 304 acres and will consist of fove units targeting EPC A+ and BREEAM Excellent ratings. A detailed planning application is expected to be submitted to South Cambridgeshire Council later in the year.

Tritax Big Box Developments Associate Development Director Tom Kennedy, said: “Greater Cambridgeshire urgently requires more space to support the region’s growth, as recognised in the Council’s own evidence base, and Tritax Park Queens’ Cambridge will help cater for this demand with flexible logistics and advanced manufacturing space for a wide range of businesses.”

A report by planning consultancy Iceni projects in March last year identified a requirement for 3.4 million ft2 of industrial and warehouse space over the next 15 years.

DPD Property, General Manager Louise Ferguson, said: “Having undertaken a comprehensive search of a new site to serve the Cambridgeshire area, we believe Tritax Park Queens’ Cambridge meets our stringent criteria – both in terms of ESG credentials and location. TBBD’s commitment to design low-carbon buildings with high green building certifications is in line with our pledge to become the UK’s most sustainable delivery service provider and we look forward to working closely with TBBD to bring this site forward.”

DPD’s aim is to be the most sustainable delivery company in the UK and, as part of Geopost, DPD has a Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) validated target to be Net Zero by 2040.

Currently 36% of DPD UK’s delivery van fleet is electric, while HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil) is used for a proportion of the year in the HGV fleet, which can reduce engine emissions by 83% compared to diesel. DPD’s decarbonisation activities also involve switching to 100% renewable electricity and electrifying the company car fleet. The DPD Eco Fund supports biodiversity and climate resilience projects both nationally and internationally.

DPD has been in talks with Tritax to take space at the proposed development from the beginning as exclusively reported by Logistics Matters last year. It has worked with Tritax over a number of years with the investor developer constructing DPD’s first outstanding Net Zero Carbon in Construction facility in Bicester.

Subject to planning the scheme will be brought forward in phases with phase 1 expected to start on site in Q1 2027 with first year occupation anticipated to be Q1 2028. The scheme is expected to be fully complete in 2029. It is expected that the scheme will provide between 2,500 – 3,000 full time equivalent jobs

The scheme will be constructed carbon net zero with facilities built to target BREEAM Excellent and EPC A as a minimum. The developers have said that at least 40% of the site will be open space and it said it would be aiming to achieve a minimum of 25% Bio Net Gain for the scheme which is currently mostly arable land.

SBH is acting for DPD.