Work starts on JD Sports warehouse on Kingsway Business Park

Work is underway on one of the biggest warehouses to be built in the North West over the last 10 years.

Retail giant JD Sports cut the first sod at its new 850,000sq ft development on Rochdale’s flagship Kingsway Business Park at a special ceremony on Tuesday, June 29.

Winvic Construction will now construct the building for Wilson Bowden Developments, which features a 616,000sq ft distribution centre and 250,000sq ft of mezzanine space.

Wilson Bowden Developments and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) have been leading the development of the Kingsway site as part of a partnership also involving Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Borough Council.

John Hudson, Chief Executive of the Rochdale Development Agency which supports the development and marketing of the site, believes that securing such a high profile tenant will further establish Kingsway as one of the leading business parks in the UK.

“Securing such a major deal at a time of economic uncertainty is great news for Kingsway Business Park,” he said.

“This is a huge development and shows Kingsway’s ability to attract big named companies to Rochdale.

“It shows that we can compete with any location in bringing major new investment to the area.”

Roger Ellis, Chief Executive of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The deal shows the real progress we are making with fantastic sites like Kingsway making the Borough a destination of choice for leading companies.

“It’s also great news for the local community as JD Sports will be retaining existing jobs and attracting new employment opportunities to the borough.”

Cllr Dale Mulgrew, Cabinet member for Development at Rochdale Borough Council added: “I am delighted at the news that JD Sports have decided to make the major investment at Kingsway. It is a major vote of confidence by a nationally recognised company in the benefits of Kingsway and Rochdale as a long-term location of their business.

“Such a large development on a highly visible plot on the main access road into the business park will provide a huge boost to the people of Rochdale – who will be able to see firsthand the significant progress that is being made.

“It is important that the local community know that the creation of new jobs is now underway at Kingsway.

“Momentum is growing, and this step is hugely significant to Kingsway's future success.”
Construction work is expected to be completed by spring of next year.

The JD Sports deal is the latest in a series of success stories for the Kingsway Business Park – which was part funded by the NWDA.

American based company CR Laurence recently completed the main construction works on its new 70,000sq ft European head office at the Kingsway site.

The business park covers 420 acres, the equivalent of 180 football pitches, and is located next to junction 21 of the M62.

Dave Perkins, Director of Programme at the NWDA, said: ““This marks another key milestone in the development of Kingsway Business Park which is one of the North West’s most important strategic employment sites.

“Securing this deal with such a high-profile company will further raise private sector confidence in the Kingsway development, which is key to driving forward the local economy in Rochdale and Greater Manchester.”