Work starts on JD Sports warehouse

Photo: Rochdale Development Agency

(Front, left to right) John Hudson, Chief Executive of Rochdale Development Agency, Garry Plumpton, Warehousing and Distribution Director at JD Sports, and Councillor Dale Mulgrew, Cabinet member for Development at Rochdale Borough Council cut the first sod of land at the new JD Sports development. (Back, left to right) Dave Perkins, Director of Programme at the NWDA, Robert Grafton, Development Director at Wilson Bowden and Jason Bright, Project Manager for Winvic

Work has started on the JD Sports warehouse on Kingsway Business Park.

On Tuesday (29 June 2010) the sports company cut the first sod at its new 850,000sq ft development on Rochdale’s flagship Kingsway Business Park.

A ceremony was held to mark the start of work on the biggest warehouse built in the North West over the last ten years.

Winvic Construction is constructing the building, expected to be completed by spring next year.

The building features a 616,000sq ft distribution centre and 250,000sq ft of mezzanine space.

Wilson Bowden Developments and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) have been leading the development of the Kingsway site as part of a partnership also involving Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Borough Council.

John Hudson, Chief Executive of the Rochdale Development Agency said: “Securing such a major deal at a time of economic uncertainty is great news for Kingsway Business Park. This is a huge development and shows Kingsway’s ability to attract big named companies to Rochdale. It shows that we can compete with any location in bringing major new investment to the area.”

Roger Ellis, Chief Executive of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The deal shows the real progress we are making with fantastic sites like Kingsway making the Borough a destination of choice for leading companies.

“It’s also great news for the local community as JD Sports will be retaining existing jobs and attracting new employment opportunities to the borough.”

Councillor Dale Mulgrew, Cabinet member for Development at Rochdale Borough Council added: “I am delighted at the news that JD Sports have decided to make the major investment at Kingsway. It is a major vote of confidence by a nationally recognised company in the benefits of Kingsway and Rochdale as a long-term location of their business.

“Such a large development on a highly visible plot on the main access road into the business park will provide a huge boost to the people of Rochdale – who will be able to see firsthand the significant progress that is being made and It is important that the local community know that the creation of new jobs is now underway at Kingsway.”

This deal is the latest in a series of success stories for Kingsway Business Park as American based company CR Laurence recently completed the main construction works on its new 70,000sq ft European head office at the Kingsway site.