Plans for the 59,250 sq ft distribution facility at Northminster Business Park, York, which is already a major business community, have been submitted to City of York Council by the park owner, development company, Northminster Properties.

A spokesman said: “DPDgroup is committed to achieving zero carbon emissions as part of global efforts to combat climate change and the new depot will enable the company to increase its current electric vehicle fleet in York from five vehicles to 35, helping to improve local air quality by serving York city centre solely with electric vehicles.”

“Plans for the new distribution centre, which have been drawn up because DPDgroup has outgrown its existing premises at Clifton Moor, include a total 30 EV charging points on site with the ability for these to be increased.”

DPDgroup is searching for new premises in York due to increased demand as the move from traditional high street shopping to buying goods online has increased rapidly. Online purchases accounted for 19.2 per cent of all retail sales in 2019, compared with 3.4 per cent in 2007.

The planned DPDgroup facility will serve an area from Northallerton to Scarborough, southwards to Hull and westwards to Selby and Wetherby as well as York.

General manager, property, for DPDgroup, Louise Ferguson, said: “We believe that the pandemic has accelerated a shift from traditional high street shopping to online purchasing and home delivery, most of which is likely to be permanent, even after the pandemic subsides.

“If approved by planners, this new depot will enable us to help meet customer needs, create valuable jobs after those lost during the pandemic and contribute to creating a clean-air environment for local people and visitors to one of the UK’s most historic cities.”

Northminster Properties managing director, George Burgess, said: “Two of the major challenges, as the UK emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic with the Government’s rapid vaccination programme, are to boost the economy through job creation and to accelerate the green agenda to combat climate change. This exciting scheme delivers both of these for York and the wider region.”

Charles Storr, economy and enterprise manager for Make it York, which promotes York as a place to do business, said: “This is an exciting scheme and any business which can create more than 100 jobs and contribute to better air quality for local people and visitors has to be a step forward for York.”

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