Lidl UK to create 500 new jobs after acquiring plot at Bolton's Logistics North site

Harworth Group, the Rotherham-headquartered brownfield regeneration and property investment specialist, has sold 43.71 acres at its flagship Logistics North development in Bolton to Lidl UK.

Located adjacent to Junction 4 of the M61, Logistics North is the North West’s largest live commercial development, with outline planning consent in place for 4m sq. ft of commercial space.

The development will see Lidl build a new regional distribution facility as the supermarket looks to expand its North West presence. Once complete, the facility is expected to deliver up to 500 new jobs to the region.

Lidl UK will work with Bolton Council to develop plans for the site, with a planning application likely to be forthcoming later in 2017.

The deal is the sixth at Logistics North in the past three years, following freehold land sales to Aldi, MBDA, Joy Global and Exeter Property Group, and Harworth’s forward funding agreement with M&G to build two large commercial units on their behalf.

Phil Wilson, managing director of Capital Growth at Harworth Group plc, said: “Logistics North has established itself as one of the North of England’s leading distribution locations and we are naturally delighted to welcome a leading company like Lidl to Logistics North.

“Our extensive work in both remediating the site and masterplanning it for employment uses continues to yield results for both Harworth and the site’s occupiers. We look forward to welcoming further occupiers to the site in 2017.”

Adrienne Howells, Lidl UK’s head of warehouse expansion, added: “With more British customers choosing Lidl as their family supermarket we are laser focused on the sustainable growth of our business.

“Once again we are delighted to reveal plans for another Lidl distribution centre in Great Britain, bringing investment to Bolton, new jobs and additional support to our existing and future stores in the north of England.”

Councillor Cliff Morris, leader of Bolton Council, also commented: “This is great news for Bolton as another well-known name signs up to Logistics North. Through this latest multi-million pound investment we are pleased to have secured 500 new jobs in addition to the 1,200 already employed on the site.

’We remain committed to continuing to work with all our partners to bring more tenants jobs and investment to the site in the near future.“