IT IS a traditional ceremony in Japan, designed to bestow wishes for success and prosperity by breaking open a barrel of sake. And the tradition took centre stage at the ground-breaking ceremony for Yusen Logistics’ new 1.2 million sq ft warehouse on the new SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton.
Contractor Winvic, SEGRO and Yusen Logistics executives and guests took part in the Kagami Biraki ceremony, in which SEGRO and Yusen representatives each hit the lid of the sake barrel with a mallet before ladling the drink into sake cups for their guests.
Construction of the unit – the first on the new park and Yusen’s largest facility worldwide – is due to complete in March next year. The unit comprises 1.144 million sq ft of ground-floor warehouse space with a 333,000 sq ft mezzanine. Winvic will also build and fit out a 35,810 sq ft three-storey main office including roof terrace and a single-story hub office.
The facility is immediately next to the 35-acre Strategic Rail Freight Terminal also constructed by Winvic. There will be parking for more than 900 cars, 163 HGVs, and more than 260 cycles and motorcycles.
An array of PV panels will be installed across the roof space of the warehouse and EV charging units will also be onsite to power Yusen’s all-electric company car fleet.
Yusen Logistics managing director David Goldsborough said: “This new facility sets a new logistics industry benchmark and emphasises Yusen Logistics’ commitment to providing sustainable logistics services by 2030. We are proud to share our organisation’s Japanese heritage at the recent ground-breaking event and are excited to be a part of this project, which will help us to achieve our sustainability goals.”
Winvic previously constructed a facility for Yusen in Wellingborough. The company has been working on site at SEGRO Logistics Park since 2021 carrying out earthworks, creating the infrastructure to prepare the site for the five million sq ft of warehousing and logistics space and constructing the 35-acre Strategic Rail Freight Interchange.
Winvic has also delivered major upgrades to Junctions 15 and 15a on the M1, the construction of a bypass around Roade village and a new bridge over the West Coast Mainline, and improvements to the A45 and safer junctions along the A508.
Dan Holford, head of national markets at SEGRO, said: “We are incredibly proud to have attracted a world-class warehouse and distribution operator like Yusen Logistics to SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton as the development’s first pre-let customer.
“What makes this development truly special is how it will support customers to achieve their sustainability goals and net-zero ambitions, particularly through the delivery of sustainable buildings, a country park and the strategic rail freight terminal. Yusen Logistics’ decision to locate here is testament to this.”
SEGRO Logistics Park is next to Junction 15 of the M1. The site includes a 235-acre community park, footpaths, cycle routes new woodlands and wetlands, 20km of hedgerows and the planting of 60,000 new trees.
West Northamptonshire Council’s deputy leader Cllr Adam Brown said: “It is fantastic to see this high-quality development break ground as it will be an incredible asset to the area creating highly skilled and well-paid jobs. The robotics, engineering and automotive skills needed are the epitome of the logistics strengths we boast in this area as the connected heart of the UK.
“It is great to see the development coming to life, utilising local contractor Winvic and the impressive Rail Freight Terminal from Maritime. Even more so because of the sustainability measures implemented to ensure this development aligns with our local net zero ambitions. We are dedicated to doing all we can to support the revolution of the logistics industry which will continue to create quality opportunities for our local residents.”
