The South-West Depot and Regional Sortation Centre – which will also create up to 250 new jobs for the area – will provide greater capacity for TNT’s network resulting in faster deliveries for customers.
TNT will offer new jobs for drivers, loading bay operatives and many other roles in operational support.
Simon Harper, Director of Operations TNT UK, said:
“Coupled with TNT’s £35million investment in its fleet of vehicles, the new Swindon sortation centre will enable us to cut delivery times as well as relieving some of the burden on our depots that serve areas around Exeter, Bodmin, Bristol, Reading, Slough, Southampton and Byfleet. Efficiently pre-sorting shipments going to our main sorting hubs in the Midlands will also mean earlier deliveries to our customers throughout the UK. It is also great news for the region because we are bringing up to 250 job opportunities to add to The People Network that is TNT.”
Keeping local parcel traffic in the South West will also mean fewer vehicles and fewer miles on already congested roads and motorways. The company, which is also significantly investing in upgrading its entire fleet, estimates its long-haul lorries will reduce mileage by nearly 690,000miles (1.1million km), which, in turn, will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 815,000kg each year, thereby reducing the impact on the environment.
Last month TNT won the Environment category at the Global Freight Awards for the work it has done in reducing its carbon footprint both within its fleet and 70 locations.
The development, supported by Forward Swindon, is being carried out by leading industrial warehouse developer IDI Gazeley on a new 10-acre site on the South Marston Industrial Estate. It will have a new state-of-the-art sort machine and more than 100 loading bays, accommodating 40 long-haul trailers and a significant number of Pick-up and Delivery trucks.
Nigel Godfrey, Executive Director and UK Country Head, of developers IDI Gazeley, said: “We are very pleased to have been chosen by TNT to develop this important new, state of the art parcel delivery distribution warehouse under construction at G.Park Swindon.
“The continued rise of online retailing brings with it the growing requirement for new specialist logistics and distribution facilities for global customers such as TNT.”