M&S launches new distribution centre in Bradford
July 22nd 2010 Marks & Spencer has opened a 1.1 million sq ft distribution centre on ProLogis Park Bradford, just off the M606.
The largest warehouse in the M&S network and one of the biggest in the UK, it will serve all M&S stores with furniture products and store equipment (e.g. racking) and, next year, ambient food (non-refrigerated food, e.g. biscuits, cereal, tins).
The centre took 205 working days to build and will employ over 1,200 people when it is fully operational. It has been developed with Plan A (M&S’ eco and ethical plan) in mind.
The building is carbon neutral, has achieved BREEAM Excellent and M&S has invested in a nature programme surrounding the site which has seen nearly 400 native trees planted, the creation of two ponds and new wetland areas.
Darrell Stein, M&S’ logistics and IT director, said: “This is an exciting day for our business. Bradford will deliver better service and better availability for our customers and it is a key part of our strategy to prepare our supply chain for the future. As an area, Bradford has fantastic transport links, a rich pool of resource and talent and has provided us with the support to deliver a facility to be proud of. We’re delighted to be here and look forward to a bright future in West Yorkshire.”
The warehouse is part of ProLogis Park, a 90 acre business site that is currently being developed by ProLogis. Construction work was carried out by Northampton-based Winvic and operations are being run by logistics specialist Wincanton.
A quarter of the building's materials were sourced locally. This includes the steel frame and the rain water tank which were both manufactured in Bradford.
Facts about the new Bradford distribution centre
- You can fit 12 Wembley pitches or 15 Valley Parade pitches inside;
- It’s a one mile walk around the outside of the building;
- Around one sixth of the population live within an hour of the site;
- You would need approximately 140 billion Percy Pigs to fill the warehouse;
- There are 134 doors for lorries to access loading bays;
- 3,500 tons of steel were used in the building’s frame;
- Under the service yard there is a 2.1m diameter rainwater storage tank which is 1200m long. When full it holds four million litres of water;
- The sprinkler system has 50,000 individual sprinkler heads. More articles from Handling & Storage Solutions: | 
