MIDDLEWICH construction company, Pochin’s, has been awarded a £6 million contract to deliver a new distribution centre for renowned international parcel delivery company, DPD.

Work on the 57,500 sq ft project, located on disused land off Greengate in Middleton, Greater Manchester, will commence this month.

The project, secured on behalf of the Royal London Group by developer Chancerygate, will see Pochin’s develop DPD’s north west presence, adding to existing depots in Manchester, Liverpool and Warrington.

Covering a 3.63-hectare plot, the new two-storey warehouse will feature expansive storage, office facilities and a single-storey welfare area for staff.

The distribution site, which was formerly home to a BAE Systems manufacturing facility, will also include 71,000 sq ft of car parking.

Jim Nicholson, CEO of Pochin’s, said: “Chancerygate share our long history of developing bespoke industrial sites to serve the UK’s logistics network. We will be working closely with the team to deliver a highly modernised facility capable of meeting the exceptional demands of today’s distribution industry.”

Consultants on the project include Ian C King Associates, Bradbook Consulting, TALA and Cudd Bentley. The project is expected to be complete by late Spring in 2018.

Mike Walker, Development Director at Chancerygate said: “The new site will be a huge boon for the local economy, with over 350 jobs to be created as the centre progresses over the coming years.

“Given Pochin’s long-standing reputation in the region, particularly on industrial projects of this scale, this partnership was the obvious choice for us in ensuring a high quality delivery.”