DFDS, the Danish shipping and freight company, is looking for 37,160 sq m (400,000 sq ft) of distribution warehousing in Greater Manchester, Birmingham, and Immingham.
The freight forwarding arm of the company is shortlisting 6ha (15-acre) motorway sites as far south as Manchester Airport and as far west as Warrington in Cheshire. It is also considering a site near Leigh.
DFDS is looking to design and build a 13,935 sq m (150,000 sq ft) high bay warehouse on its chosen site with an opening date scheduled for late 1997 or early 1998. The company has already drawn up outline plans for this scheme.
The second requirement is for a similiar specification on 8ha (20 acres) in north-east Birmingham, West Midlands. The firm started looking at motorway sites last week, although is still someway off drawing up a shortlist. Opening date for this unit is set for late 1998 or early 1999.
The freight forwarder currently occupies 9,290 sq m (100,000 sq ft) on 4ha (10 acres) in Immingham near Grimsby, Humberside. There is about one year remaining on the lease. The company is rumoured to be negotiating with Insulated Structures to buy the site, although neither party was available to comment.
Last year DFDS closed its Grimsby facility and consolidated port-side activity at the Nordic Terminal in Immingham. ABP built the 16ha (40-acre) four-berth ro-ro complex for DFDS at a cost of £13.5m. It is used by the Tor Lines division of the company for importing Volvo and Saab vehicles.
Peter Tachinski, the new Managing Director on Logistics and Distribution who moved from Swift last month, is handling the Birmingham and Manchester requirements. Fletcher King Riddell Braithwaite are advising DFDS.
EGi News 06/09/96
