McLaren Construction Midlands and North has commenced construction on a distribution centre for retailer, TJ Morris Ltd, at the Unity Yorkshire development in Doncaster.
The new distribution centre will play a crucial role in the region’s industrial expansion, bringing 1,000 new jobs and opportunities to Doncaster and the region.
Unity Yorkshire is a flagship mixed-use regeneration project, transforming the area into a business and employment hub, set within a sustainable mixed use flagship development.
The new 1 million sq ft facility, located at Unity Connect, will consist of a fully automated distribution hub, with a 43-metre-high bay and significant low bay and cold storage areas, designed to support TJ Morris’ expansion plans.
A groundbreaking ceremony marked the significant milestone in the expansion of T J Morris’ national distribution network. The event was attended by Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, and representatives from City of Doncaster Council and Business Doncaster, Waystone Hargreaves Land, Atkins Realis, some of the logistics and automation team for TJ Morris and McLaren Construction Midlands and North.
Construction is set to progress rapidly, with completion scheduled for October 2026. Upon completion, the facility will hand over to Witron for installation of automated picking equipment. The site will be highly automated and will service 300+ Home Bargains stores by mid 2028.
Stuart Goss, Operations Director at McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said: “We are thrilled to break ground on this major project for TJ Morris Ltd. This development is a testament to our expertise in delivering high-specification logistics facilities that drive business growth and regional economic development.”
Neil Kelson, Head of Logisitics at TJ Morris, added: “The new Distribution Centre represents a key step in our logistics strategy, enabling us to serve our customers more efficiently and support our expansion plans while creating significant employment opportunities for the local community.”
Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, added: “Today marks a milestone for the local area and wider City of Doncaster as we break ground on this state-of-the-art Distribution Centre.
“This new addition to the Unity Yorkshire development not only strengthens our local community but also creates new, well-paid jobs for our residents. This is just the start of such a transformational development and is testament to our city’s growth and commitment to building a brighter future for all.”
Helen McLoughlin, Director at Waystone Hargreaves LLP, said: “This is a tremendously exciting moment for everyone connected with the development of Unity. TJ Morris quickly identified the many benefits that Unity has to offer as a strategic location, so we are thrilled that they are commencing work on-site.
“This will be a landmark building which will well and truly put Unity Yorkshire on the map, and we look forward to seeing construction progress in the months ahead.”
