International parcel delivery company DPD and East Yorkshire property developer Horncastle Group PLC have broken ground on a commercial development that will create up to 50 additional jobs.

Construction work has got underway at DPD’s new 47,145sqft parcel distribution depot at Ozone Business Park in Howden following a period of unprecedented growth in the UK for DPD, thanks largely to the success of its unique Predict service.

Predict notifies customers of their one hour delivery slot in advance, so that they don’t have to wait in all day for a parcel.

The £4m development sits on a 4.5 acre site and includes a distribution warehouse, 6,716sqft of offices space, 59 van and HGV trailer parking spaces and 60 car parking spaces.

Once fully operational the facility will be able process up to 20,000 packages a day for delivery to residential and business addresses within a 50 mile radius.

As part of the investment, DPD will relocate staff from its existing operation in nearby Goole to the new site, from September. Currently, the business employs around 50 staff but Louise Ferguson, General Manager of Property at DPD, said that number was set to double by the end of the year.

Ms Ferguson said: “Our new Howden depot will be a state-of-the-art, purpose-built distribution facility that will allow us to expand our existing operation to meet our growing business needs and create a significant number of new jobs.”

Ozone Business Park is a 32 acre site based on the A614 and is part of the Goole/Howden employment hub.  It is one minute from junction 37 of the M62 and is home to big name companies including Warburtons and Image Data.

Ian Hodges, Managing Director of Horncastle Group PLC, said: “We’re delighted to see construction begin on site and are confident that work will progress quickly, ensuring the facility will be completed and ready to become operational in September”.

“DPD is one of the UK’s best loved parcel delivery companies and it will be fantastic to welcome them to the site later this year. Attracting such high profile businesses to Ozone Business Park is fantastic news for the region and testament to the great location and design and build quality of the development.”

Horncastle Group PLC will retain ownership of the building and lease it to DPD on a long term agreement.

Hull-based construction company Hobson and Porter is the principal contractor on the project.

Picture caption: (L-R) David Watson, Director at Horncastle Group PLC; Harvey Stokes and Camilla Johnston of DPD, and Ian Hodges, Managing Director of Horncastle Group PLC.