Parcel delivery firm Hermes is continuing its expansion strategy with plans to open a new mega hub in Barnsley with space for almost 600 HGVs.

This latest news closely follows Hermes announcement last month that it is to open another ten depots,  spend £100m expanding its warehousing capacity and recruit 10,500 new employees, as the pandemic lockdown continues to drive up online retail volumes.

The company has agreed a 20-year lease on the new 340,000 sq ft hub, which forms the major part of plans currently awaiting approval submitted by developer Newlands Developments.

The site, just off Junction 36 of the M1 motorway, will include 298,700sqft of warehousing, a three-storey office block, parking spaces for 650 cars, 595 HGVs, 150 tractors and 60 cycle storage spaces.

The development will also deliver 49 ha of offices, general industry, warehousing and distribution units, along with associated infrastructure and a link road.

The application estimates that more than 2,000 new jobs will be created in total, with 800 jobs generated at the Hermes distribution centre.

If the site gets planning permission it will mark a major development for Hermes which currently has two parcel hubs and 28 depots, 18,000 couriers and 3,700 employees.

The application states that the proposed Hermes mega-hub would generate £41m in investment plus a 20-year lease commitment.

It adds: “The proposals will generate up to 800 jobs with 500 permanent employee contracts. Of these, there will be a number of a number of management staff with pay grades of between £23,000-£80,000K. Training opportunities and career development will also be promoted at the site.”

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