CRAIGAVON transport firm Manfreight has signed a long-lease agreement for new £9 million logistics warehouse in Belfast Harbour.
Ground has already been broken on the new development on West Bank Road, with Newry firm Felix O’Hare the lead contractor.
The trust port is funding the design and build of the project itself.
The new hub is located beside the roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ferry terminals and the Victoria Terminal 3 container terminal at Belfast Harbour.
The warehouse will service the north’s agri-food producers and retailers for both import and export trading.
Chris Slowey from Manfreight, said: “The development of this new industry leading chilled warehouse is an important strategic step for Manfreight as we aim to meet our customers’ growing needs for more sustainable and digitised warehousing.
“This new warehouse in Belfast Harbour will bring new employment to the local area, in turn supporting and developing the local economy.
“We are very proud of our long-standing relationship with Belfast Harbour and are pleased they share our vision to develop and build sustainable, digitised and futureproofed warehouses for our business and more importantly our valued customers.”
Port director Michael Robinson said Manfreight’s long-lease “demonstrates their confidence in both the local agri-food and distribution sector and also the competitive advantage the facility and its location will provide”.
He added: “Over the past decade, we have seen requirements change in the logistics market, with occupiers requiring more modern, energy efficient facilities, and this site presented an opportunity to construct an occupier-led, purpose-built warehouse in an ideal location within the harbour estate close to our main ferry terminals.
“With more than 500,000 sq ft of modern logistics space already developed in this part of the Harbour Estate, it is clear that the market sees the economic value of locating in the Port beside the ferry terminals.”
The site has been visited by NIO Minister Steve Baker.
He said: “Belfast Harbour is a key asset for the local economy, hosting more than five million annual visits, including 1.5 million ferry and cruise ship passengers and handling 70 percent of all the region’s seaborne trade.
“This £9m investment by Belfast Harbour in a new logistics warehouse facility, with Manfreight as a tenant, will significantly benefit Northern Irish agri-food producers and retailers boosting both import and export trading.”
s funding the construction of the
