The UK's fastest growing major parcel delivery company DPD has invested £14m developing four new super depots in Cardiff, Dagenham, Exeter and Stoke. Covering at least 60,000 sq ft, each super-depot is double the size of DPD's standard depot sites, and will be capable of handling 25,000 parcels a day.
The new purpose-built facilities are all fitted with state-of-the-art, fully automated sorting conveyers and have the capacity to handle 6,000 packages an hour - making them up to four times as efficient as older depots.
The four new super depots have all been delivered ahead of the Christmas parcel rush, and will contribute to what will be a record peak period for DPD, with planned parcel volumes 30% up on last year.
The investment will create 170 new jobs this year in a range of roles - including operations and drivers - and each super depot will still have significant capacity to continue growing for years to come.
The investment is part of the largest ever expansion of the DPD network. It follows a period of sustained growth due to DPD's unique Predict service which notifies parcel recipients of their one-hour delivery timeslot, in advance, by email or text and gives them access to a range of ‘in-flight options' such as deliver to a specific neighbour, leave in a specified safe place or divert delivery to the nearest DPD Pickup shop. Predict enables recipients to manage their own delivery via their smartphone or PC and to communicate with their driver in real-time to ensure that millions more parcels are delivered, right, first-time.
Cardiff: Wentloog Corporation Industrial Park, Wentloog Avenue, Cardiff, CF3 2ER
To increase its capacity in South Wales, DPD has invested £3.5m in a new 60,555 sq ft purpose-built super depot in Cardiff. The new facility will add up to 60 new routes initially and gives capacity for DPD to carry on growing in Cardiff for the next five years, at least. The super depot replaces DPD's existing site on Spring Meadow Industrial Estate, which is 30 years old. The new site will create 35 new jobs initially.
Dagenham: Orion Park, Messina Way, Dagenham, RM9 6FF
DPD will create up to 60 new jobs at its new £3.5m super depot in Dagenham, which replaces the company's existing facility at Spilsby Road in Romford. The new 66,000 sq ft super depot is closer to London and will help by taking routes from up to six other local depots chiefly, Enfield, London Bridge and Chelmsford. Located on the A13 between the North Circular and the M25, the new location is perfectly situated for both getting into London and out to Essex.
Exeter: Spitfire Avenue, Skypark, Clyst Honiton, Exeter, EX5 2FR
DPD has invested £3.5m in a new super depot, which will be the first unit to open on the new Skypark business park. The new 60,468 sq ft state-of-the-art facility, replaces DPD's old depot located at Heron Road on the Sowton Industrial Estate, which was more than 20 years old. The new super depot more than doubles DPD's capacity in the area and gives the team plenty of space to expand in the next five years. The new location gives drivers easy access to the M5. The development will create up to 35 new jobs initially.
Stoke: Shelton Boulevard, Etruria, Stoke On Trent, ST1 5GP
DPD will create up to 40 new jobs initially at its new Shelton Boulevard, super depot. The 60,121 sq ft site will replace DPD's existing depot on the Parkhouse Industrial Estate West, Newcastle under Lyme. Located on the A500, the new facility gives DPD drivers better access to the M6 motorway and for routes to Leek and the Peak District. Ultimately the new super depot will take on new routes as far afield as Chester and Telford, with scope to continue expanding in years to come.
Dwain McDonald, DPD's CEO commented, "Our new flagship super depots are the largest and most efficient in our network and are the latest demonstration of our commitment to our customers. They enable us to expand our capacity, run our service efficiently and maintain our very high service standards. Most importantly they ensure we remain well ahead of demand from our business and retail customers. We're investing in capacity for the future, so these huge depots will be able to continue to grow for the next five years and beyond.
"The new super depots are kitted-out with state-of-the-art sorting technology, they are up to four times as efficient as the depots they replace. The new locations also give our drivers better access to major road networks, improving our journey times. However, it is just as important to us that these new facilities are a great place to work. The sites are much larger which means we've got lots of room for staff to park as well as space for a staff canteen a shower facilities."
In September, DPD opened Europe's largest and most technically advanced sorting hub in Hinckley, Leicestershire. DPD's fourth hub, which cost £100m and will create 1,000 full-time jobs, increases the company's overall UK parcel capacity by 65%.