RPS Designs DP World London Gateway Logistics Centre

Work on phase one of the London Gateway Logistics Centre, a state-of-the-art, common user distribution centre is complete - with the first clients settled in and the first cargo having passed through the high-spec building in South Essex.

Located at DP World London Gateway – a world class, market-centric port-hub – the Logistics Centre, designed by RPS Architects and Civil and Structural Engineers, is a new concept and the first warehouse to be built on what will eventually be one of the largest logistics parks of its kind in Europe.

Being built in two phases, the Logistics Centre provides tailored logistics solutions for import and export companies using the DP World London Gateway Port.

The Logistics Centre currently totals 206,000sq ft in warehouse and office space, with 180,000sq ft of warehousing and 26,000sq ft of office space. The building will eventually span an area of 386,000sq ft.

Import Services Ltd is operating the centre on behalf of DP World, offering services such as devanning, cross-docking, storage and added value activities such as high-volume order processing and pick-and-pack. Businesses of all sizes can get a taste of the centre’s state-of-the-art build and design, coupled with its location on London Gateway Logistics Park.

It is built to the BREEAM “Very Good” standard and is equipped with solar panels on the roof – adding to its ability to be partially self-sufficient. “The coastal path is located in a remote coastal environment, at the base of 60m high cliffs. The shallow water depths and exposed location precluded the use of marine plant for the project. Therefore the design of the structures and handrailing facilitates segmental/lightweight construction where possible and minimises the number of heavy lifts required over the cliff edge”.

The 9.25 million sq ft London Gateway Logistics Park is located adjacent to the UK’s newest, most advanced deep-sea container terminal – on the doorstep of the largest consumer market in Western Europe.

Open for just over 18 months, DP World London Gateway Port is bringing previously unseen reliability to the supply chain: in 600 days of trading, the port is yet to close its gates to trucks. This is due to its sophisticated technology that enables operations to continue safely in weather which forces other ports to close. “It showcases the shoreline, it showcases the people of Northern Ireland and it is just a great facility and a great new attraction to have, it complements what we already have on the Causeway Coastal route. We have the Giants Causeway, we have Carrick-a-rede, we have the shore road and the coastal road”.

DP World London Gateway Supply Chain Manager Chris Evans, said: “The London Gateway Logistics Centre is a hugely attractive proposition. Located next to a high performing, state-of-the-art port and on the doorstep of more than two-thirds of the UK’s consumer market, the Logistics Centre enables businesses to add London Gateway to their distribution networks as a strategic de-vanning and collection point. This is particularly beneficial for those serving the South East and currently facing issues of empty backhaul. With the rapidly changing multi-channel retail landscape, the introduction of a multiple- user facility at London Gateway Logistics Park will support increased agility and flexibility of customers’ supply chains.”