Glencar completes £25m Liverpool port warehouse

Peel Ports’ 237,000 sq ft Alexandra Dock facility is capable of storing 90,000 tonnes of cargo.

Contractor Glencar has handed over the £25m multi-user warehouse, located at Peel’s Port of Liverpool.

Designed by Chetwoods, the unit is available for use by importers on a first come first serve basis and is aimed at boosting the port’s storage capabilities. The unit has recently taken receipt of two shipments of grain.

Grain is likely to be one of the most common imports stored in the unit, at least in the short term, due to the wet start to the year, according to Phil Hall, Mersey port director at Peel Ports Group.

“We’re seeing very strong demand for storage at ports rather than further inland – in this case, it is due to the wet weather earlier in the year impacting the harvest, making the job much harder for UK farmers, and so as a nation we’re having to import more grain and animal feed to keep up with demand.

“But owners of all cargo types say they’re looking for efficiencies at every point in the supply chain, and we need to be responsive to that.

He added: “Investing in and creating infrastructure that’s essential for the future has always been at the heart of our strategy, and this is a perfect example of us doing that – and good news for our customers as they look to reduce costs and improve reliability.”

Peel has already developed just shy of 1m sq ft of multi-user warehouse space at the £400m Liverpool2, part of the Port of Liverpool.

Pete Goodman Glencar managing director for the Midlands and North, said: “Ports serve as a critical part of the UK supply chain and multi-user facilities of this type contribute towards the continuation of the import and export of vital goods and enhance the ports warehousing and distribution capabilities.

“This development aims to optimise supply chains, reduce road miles, and provide substantial cost, carbon, and congestion benefits, solidifying Liverpool’s role in the UK’s logistics network.”