DPD has unveiled plans to invest £330 million in the construction of seven state-of-the-art distribution centres over the next two years, marking a significant milestone in its national infrastructure development.
The investment will see the delivery of DPD’s 50th new-build regional depot, forming part of an extensive and ongoing programme to enhance its network of over 80 parcel sorting centres across the UK.
Construction will commence this year on new sites in Crawley and Darlington, with additional centres in Cambridge, Bradford, Guildford, Milton Keynes, and Sittingbourne scheduled for development in 2026. All seven facilities are expected to be operational by early 2027.
Each of the 60,000 sq ft hubs will feature fully automated parcel sortation systems, capable of handling up to 80,000 parcels per day.
They will also accommodate over 100 new delivery driver routes, ensuring DPD can meet rising demand while future-proofing for continued growth.
In keeping with DPD’s sustainability goals, all sites will be strategically located to optimise transport efficiency, particularly for its growing electric van fleet. EV charging infrastructure will be included as standard, further supporting the firm’s progress towards its Net Zero ambitions.
The expansion is set to create a wide range of new jobs across driving, administration, warehousing, and operations roles, providing a boost to local economies.
Tim Jones, Director of Marketing, Communications & Sustainability at DPDgroup UK, said: “This announcement represents a significant investment in our infrastructure as we continue to modify and expand our nationwide network of over 80 regional sorting centres.
"Our 50th new depot will be a landmark moment with the majority of our regional sorting centres having been replaced and upgraded.
"It is one of the reasons we continue to be the leading premium parcel delivery service in the UK – we have modern, purpose-built infrastructure in place with the speed and the capacity needed to run a premium national seven day a week, next day delivery service.
"With 38% of our delivery van fleet already electric, these facilities will be served by increasing numbers of electric vehicles, making them more sustainable operations, and helping us move towards our Net Zero targets.”