Search on for tenants where 11,000 jobs could be created

THE formal push to find potential tenants for a vast new industrial complex next to East Midlands Airport is underway.

Property agents from across Britain have been given a guided tour of the 700-acre SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway, being built in the north Leicestershire countryside at Castle Donington.

The companies behind a massive new “inland port” claim it will create more than 11,000 jobs within 6m sq ft of warehouse space.

Around 70 agents were shown around the site and given a virtual reality look at how the finished development will look.

SEGRO and Roxhill, the firms behind the logistics park, said that once complete it will be home to 7,250 workers.

They also said that the project, served by upgraded rail, road and air connections, will create a further 3,000 jobs indirectly.

Construction – includ- ing new infrastructure and 10 huge warehouse buildings – is already underway and has the potential to create 900 jobs.

Previously, it had been reported that the scheme would create around 7,000 jobs – but this did not include the number of indirect jobs created or those created in the construction phase.

Work on preparing the site, near Castle Donington, which includes building new road connections, has already started.

Now, SEGRO and Roxhill have formally launched the scheme, appointing agents Burbage Realty, CBRE and Savills to secure occupiers.

Rumours have already started to surface about potential tenants.

Last month, some media reports claimed that global foods giant Nestle was in talks about taking a 600,000 sq ft unit at East Midlands Gateway.

The Swiss-owned business has remained tightlipped about the specula- tion.

East Midlands Gateway presents an attractive proposition for logistics operations.

It has good road connections, as it is next to the M1, and good air links as it is right next to East Midlands Airport - the largest pure freight hub in the country.

The whole development will be served by its own 50-acre rail freight terminal.

This links directly to the Castle Donington freight line, which provides access to major UK ports such as Southampton, Felixstowe and London Gateway.

SEGRO is funding £100 million of infrastructure at East Midlands Gateway, including the rail freight terminal.

A partnership with Highways England and other highways authorities means there will also be £35 million of road improvements associated with East Midlands Gateway, including better connections at Junction 24 and Junction 24A of the M1.