Distribution centre up and running by Christmas

Published on 22nd March 2007 in News

The new Tesco distribution centre near Goole could be open by Christmas, Centreport developers have said.

Work on the M62 Junction 36 site began last month and the developers Sterling St James said this week that the 850,000 square foot distribution centre could be finished by the end of the year.

David Custance, head of strategic development and property for Yorkshire Forward said: "Tesco's presence on the Centreport site marks the beginning of a new phase, opening up further land for development to create jobs and business opportunities for the town and port of Goole."

One thousand jobs will be created through the Tesco development, in managerial, information technology, logistics and maintenance, and at least another 4,000 when the rest of the site is developed.

Offices, leisure and retails outlets, including a hotel and restaurant, and manufacturing and distribution units are all due to be built.

Simon Clarke, development director at Sterling St James, said: "We believe we have ticked all the boxes, from providing a framework to create 5,000 new, quality and sustainable jobs, to radically improving the infrastructure of the site and to protecting the environment with strong ecological measures.

"We are confident that we will deliver one of the most important and successful developments in the area for 30 years."

The company have also defended their handling of the site's ecology after criticism from Goole Town councillor Kester Dean.

Cllr Dean has expressed concern that the great crested newts and the water voles there have not been properly protected.

However, Gary Oliver, of ecological consultants Andrew McCarthy Associates, explained: "Extensive on-site and off-site works are being undertaken to improve the ditches in and around the Centreport site for water voles.

"Twenty-six water voles were rescued from the site during the autumn of 2006 and transferred to a specialist holding facility in Devon.

"The site shall be improved for the voles over the course of the next year or so, with a view to bringing back fifty animals to the site in the summer of 2008."

Mr Clarke added: "We have spent £250,000 on archaeology and ecology so far. There will be more to come with further surveys, monitoring and ecological management responsibilities.

"We have also agreed to additional payments towards the adjacent country park, as and when we develop the site out, together with £26,000 for the Tesco plot."