Kitchen supplier Howdens Joinery Group has submitted plans for a 2.7m sq ft shed in Northamptonshire that would be one of the largest in the country.
The facility, which is to be developed by Roxhill off junction 15 of the M1, would serve as a new national distribution centre and include office accommodation. It represents a direct investment of £250m into the local economy.
Burbage Realty is representing Howdens on the prelet.
The supplier has 580 depots in the UK, with Northampton as its central hub. It plans to expand its holdings to more than 700 depots.
The firm ruled out options at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal and junction 16 of the M1.
Howdens chief executive Matthew Ingle said: “Having considered a range of alternatives, we have identified the only site in, or sufficiently close to, Northampton that is suitable for the scale and format of the NDC building and other facilities we require to support our successful growth.
“We have consulted with local residents and have listened to their concerns. As a result we are investing in junction 15 of the M1 to alleviate the traffic jams that local residents have had to suffer. We are also ensuring that all the traffic generated by the site will use the motorway wherever possible and not the local roads.
“The building is designed to be out of direct sight lines and achieve the highest level of sustainability. The landscaping around the site will ensure the area retains its rural feel.
“If Howdens is unable to move to a new site in Northampton in a suitable timescale, which enables us to retain our existing workforce, then the group will have to secure an alternative appropriate location elsewhere in the UK. If planning consent is not granted, a relocation away from Northamptonshire will be necessary in order to achieve our strategic objective. This would be deeply regrettable as our preference is to remain and continue to grow in Northampton.”
