Two Multi-Million Pound Projects Set to Create Logistics Jobs in East Midlands

The construction of a new distribution building for one of the UK’s best known retailers and the associated extension of a local railway line is set to create hundreds of logistics jobs in the East Midlands.

Marks & Spencer are building a giant distribution facility on the site of the former Castle Donington power station whilst £7million is also being invested in linking the site to the local Birmingham to Nottingham railway line.

M&S facility set to create 1,000 logistics jobs

At full capacity, Marks and Spencer’s new distribution centre is expected to employ 1,000 people. The site is owned by Brailsford-based Clowes Developments who are also investing around £7 million in linking the centre to the local rail network.

A contract was signed with Network Rail in 2010 and work on a rail connection will be complete within a couple of weeks. The connection will pave the way for a 1.5-mile stretch of track to be laid and a rail terminal building will be constructed to handle goods.

The Derby Evening Telegraph reports that ‘the rail hub will be capable of handling goods from UK deep-sea ports and containers arriving from the European rail network via the Channel Tunnel.’

First M&S facility to have an integrated rail terminal

Jason Keegan, head of logistics at Marks & Spencer, said: "Construction work has started on our new site and so far everything is progressing to plan. This is the second of our new distribution centres and it will become a key part of our business.

"It will also be the first Marks & Spencer facility to have an integrated rail freight terminal which will enable us to transport more products by rail in the future.”

At 900,000 sq ft, the distribution centre will become one of the biggest buildings in the East Midlands with a floor area the size of ten football pitches. The centre will also create hundreds of new logistics job for the East Midlands area.