Arrow XL hub destroyed by fire to reopen in 2019

Arrow XL has said it will be two years before it can reopen the hub that was destroyed by a fire earlier this year.

The 200,000ft² Worcester hub, one of Arrow's four key sites, was consumed by the blaze on 20 April.

The two-man delivery firm said that plans are in place to reopen the facility in 2019, and that it has signed a lease on a new warehouse and DC in Droitwich Spa to service the West Midlands in the meantime.

The company will also continue to use the warehouse in Chepstow it began operating out of shortly after the fire.

Combined, the two sites offer 310,000ft² or warehousing space.

Arrow said it will begin operations in Droitwich Spa in early September. The facility is currently being fitted with racking and telephone lines.

Arrow XL CEO Ian Howell said: “I am extremely proud of how the whole Arrow XL family has reacted and responded to the fire.

"The team has spent considerable time sourcing and preparing the Droitwich site, which will enable our business to continue providing exceptional levels of service to the UK retail industry.

“We are also excited to confirm that plans are currently in place to rebuild our Worcester facility, which we anticipate will reopen in 2019."