Developer breaks ground on new buildings following £100m deal

Clowes Developments has started work on developing new logistics facilities following a £100 million deal with NFU Mutual.

Last year, Derbyshire-based firm announced it had exchanged contracts with the insurance giant to develop six logistics facilities throughout the UK.

East Midlands Distribution Centre (EMDC), at Castle Donington, will house two of the six brand-new NFU Mutual properties agreed within the landmark deal.

The two large scale properties will sit next to each other and are located on a central plot of land running through the middle of the wider business park.

The units will be directly opposite the one million sq ft M&S distribution centre, which spans the length of a half mile long road.

The first new building, EMDC190, will be a 190,000 sq ft unit, with 18 loading bays, over 10,000 sq ft of office space over two floors and associated welfare facilities for staff.

The second property, EMDC280. will be largest of the units built for NFU Mutual at 280,000 sq ft.

Planning permission was secured at the start of the year and now a ground-breaking ceremony has taken place at the site to mark the beginning of construction.

Paul Shanley, consultant at Clowes Developments, said: “Since our ownership of EMDC began, we have continually bought world-class businesses to the development.

“Thousands of jobs have been generated on the former power station site and we endeavour to deliver further regeneration with the remaining plots at the site.

“The addition of two brand-new units for NFU Mutual will bring a new dimension to the site and we are confident the new occupiers will benefit from all that EMDC and its locality has to offer.”

EMDC is already home to the e-commerce distribution centre of M&S, as well as Moran Logistics and Birlea Furniture.

It is also on the doorstep on East Midlands Airport, the only UK inland airport to achieve Freeport status.

Jon Brice, from NFU Mutual, said: “NFU Mutual are delighted to be working with Clowes Developments to bring through developments across three strategically located sites in the East Midlands.

“This project forms a key part of NFU Mutual’s strategy and we are excited that planning permission has been achieved and works are now progressing at EMDC.

“This marks a significant milestone in our ongoing story with Clowes Developments, and we can’t wait to watch the construction process orchestrated by world-class professionals evolve over the coming months.”