• Swindon & Wiltshire Property
• Tuesday November 12 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Swindon to lead way in logistics hubs for electric vehicles

Swindon is to lead the way in decarbonised goods delivery, after permission was granted for the construction of a three-deck electric van park on the outskirts of the town.

Swindon Borough Council has granted Infinium Logistics permission to build the first of its planned FleetHubs at the former Groundwell park and ride site.

The move will allow logistics and e-commerce businesses to operate fleets of electric vehicles – especially for ‘last mile deliveries’.

The facility – which will employ 14 people – will have multiple charging points for nearly 400 electric vans, with some of the power being produced on-site through solar panels, which will be mounted on the top deck of the 12.5m tall car park.

The hub will also have goods storage facilities for its clients, and a cafe and restrooms for drivers.

Swindon is the first of a number of FleetHubs planned by Infinium Logistics. The purchase of the site was followed by a second acquisition at Banbury, which was sold to Amazon for £28 million. The firm has subsequently acquired brownfield sites at Heathrow, Sheffield, Surrey and East London. The firm is also looking to acquire sites in Europe.

Phil Bayliss, CEO of Infinium Logistics, said: “Helping to deliver the clean energy transition through the electrification of commercial transport in real estate is an extraordinary opportunity.

“The role that the real estate sector can play as architects of a cleaner, greener mobility future is enormous and our generation’s defining, watershed moment in the drive towards a sustainable future.

“It will all start with great sites in high demand locations and these investments do just that.”

Latest: From racing cars to delivery trucks – Wiltshire event will look at the future of electrification