FIRST TENANT ANNOUNCED AT PORT SALFORD TRI-MODAL DISTRIBUTION PARK

• 280,000 sq. ft. ambient warehouse to be tenanted by food and drink logistics giant, Culina Group 
• 280 jobs to be created 
• First phase of UK’s first tri-modal distribution park receives detailed planning 

Peel Ports Group has announced Culina Group as the first major tenant at their National Import Centre being developed on the multi-million pound Port Salford site – the UK’s first tri-modal inland port facility and Distribution Park, accessible by rail, road and short sea-shipping.

The food and drink logistics giant will occupy the first warehouse unit comprising 26,022 sq. m. (280,000 sq. ft.) of accommodation, including ancillary offices, service yard and parking. 280 jobs will be created at the distribution centre, which is expected to be completed by April 2016 and fully operational by the end of 2016.

Located adjacent to the Manchester Ship Canal, Port Salford will enable direct vessel access from the new Liverpool2 terminal at the Port of Liverpool being developed by Peel Ports, dramatically improving the supply chain across the North West. It is anticipated that the majority of container loads will eventually arrive at the National Import distribution hub from Liverpool via the Manchester Ship Canal, resulting in significant carbon emission reductions and environmental savings.

Located next to the arterial motorway routes of the M60 and M62, Port Salford offers one of the most significant new warehousing and logistics opportunities in the UK. The first phase of development has a total area of 50 hectares (150 acres). Further plans are in preparation for Phase 2, which will bring the total site to 101 hectares (250 acres), with 370,000 sq. m. (4 million sq. ft.) of development opportunities.

On completion, the warehousing element of the Port Salford development will extend to 148,699 sq. m. (1,600,000 sq. ft.), enabling specialist goods handling and redistribution throughout the North West. Around 3,860 permanent jobs will be created as part of the scheme.

The announcement follows the confirmation of detailed planning permission for the warehouse unit, granted by Salford City Council at a meeting on 19 March.

Mark Whitworth, CEO Peel Ports Group said: “We are delighted to welcome Culina Group as the anchor tenant at the National Import Centre. Their presence as a market leading logistics organisation, handling the supply chain requirements of some of the world’s biggest, best and most recognisable food and drink companies, will act as a catalyst to attract more logistics providers to the area.”

Thomas Van Mourik, CEO, Culina Group, said: “This is fantastic news and a really important development as we seek to enhance our market leading position. Culina Port Salford will give us a real strategic foothold in the North West, enabling us to manage the growth of our existing clients, bring even more new business on board and create a substantial number of jobs in the region.”

Amendments to the existing application to allow the operation of the Culina Group building prior to final completion of the support road and rail network leading to the site, were also approved.

Matt Fitton, Director of Development, Peel Holdings added: “The planning approval for the 280,000 sq. ft. distribution unit that is pre-let to Culina Group will create 280 jobs and is the catalyst for the Port Salford development, which will ultimately become one of the UK’s most significant multi-modal facilities.

“For global logistics companies, the ability to move containers up the Manchester Ship Canal from Liverpool to sites such as Port Salford is highly appealing and we are delighted to announce Culina as our anchor tenant. Work will start on site in mid-summer with the facility available for occupation in March 2016.”


Construction on the new Culina Group warehouse is scheduled to start on site within weeks. The main civil engineering contractor is international construction firm, John Sisk and Son.

Port Salford is being developed by the Peel Ports’ sister company Peel Land and Property.