ProLogis’ Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal will allow its occupier, Tesco, to take 100,000 lorry journeys off the roads each year.
The 800,000 sq ft DIRFT shed in the Northamptonshire town is expected to open this summer, and will allow Tesco to handle eight trains every day at the distribution centre.
It will significantly reduce the number of lorries on the roads, saving around 14m road miles and 19,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
This is because goods moving to or from the site will go by rail rather than the roads.
ProLogis UK managing director Andy Griffiths said: “The age of the train in the distribution sector has been long heralded and ProLogis has been working towards a development of this kind for a number of years.
“We are delighted that Tesco is helping to shape the future of on-site rail distribution and look forward to such initiatives becoming standard practice across the logistics industry and thereby creating greater economies of scale among occupiers.”
Tesco regional corporate affairs manager Tony Fletcher said: “Not only does the new site provide the space we need to support the future growth of our grocery range, it also delivers major environmental benefits due to its location and on-site rail infrastructure.”
Nick.whitten@estatesgazette.com
