Construction is well under way on a major medical distribution centre in Wakefield, which will create between 150 and 300 jobs.
The 260,000 sq ft facility will serve the NHS and pharmacies across the North of England.
It is being built by GMI Construction Group Plc on behalf of developer HBD and Yorkcourt for Phoenix Group.
Read more: £10m mixed use development underway with city builder appointed
It has a portfolio of companies providing healthcare services and products across the UK and Europe, including pharmacy brands Rowlands, Numark and NuCare, supporting more than 4,000 community pharmacies.
Steve Anderson, Phoenix Group managing director, said “Over the last few years, we have seen an outstanding growth in customer demand for our core services outpacing the market. “Wakefield is a prime example of how we are committed to investing in the future by expanding our UK-wide operational capabilities to offer all our customers across the country the best possible service they need, want and deserve.
“This follows our investment a few years ago in a new, much larger depot in Belfast to meet growing demand in Northern Ireland. This is an exciting time for Phoenix UK.”
The facility will be Phoenix’s 14th UK depot, with 250 million packs of medicines already delivered annually. It employs 5,500 people.
It is expected to be completed in the final quarter of the year.
Andrew Hurcomb, regional managing director at GMI Construction Group, said: “We are proud to continue our long-standing relationship with HBD to deliver this significant project, which will enhance the economy of the local area and generate employment. The investment being made in Wakefield is indicative of the levelling up that’s taking place in the North of England that GMI is contributing to through the construction of facilities such as this.”
The site will feature 22 dock-level loading bays and seven level access doors and will be highly energy efficient, with solar installations on the roof and 46 electric vehicle charging bays in the car park.
Extensive landscaped areas and a balancing pond will also feature as part of the development, while improvements will be made to adjacent bridleways, connecting to the Trans Pennine Trail.
Wakefield Hub is being delivered in joint venture by HBD and Yorkcourt and, spanning 200-acres, is one of the largest regeneration projects of its kind in the North of England.
Tom Wheldon, director and head of region at HBD, said: “It’s fantastic to see the new unit for Phoenix starting on site - its move to Wakefield is a huge vote of confidence in Wakefield as a place to invest and in the strength of Yorkshire’s regional economy.”
Scott Mackie, director at Yorkcourt, added: “We’re excited to see work beginning on the new unit for Phoenix; the latest addition to Wakefield Hub. It’s an important scheme for Wakefield, regenerating a 200-acre site and creating significant new job opportunities.”
