DP World has broken ground on a new driver welfare facility at its Southampton logistics hub, as the global supply chain solutions provider expands its footprint throughout the UK.
According to DP World, when completed, the new facility would give heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers with facilities such as a restaurant, café, restrooms, and showers, as well as 24-hour security for over 120 trucks.
Along with these driver welfare advantages, the 7,500 square-metre facility is intended to cut carbon emissions and alleviate household worries about local traffic, both of which were reportedly important considerations in Southampton City Council’s acceptance of the construction.
DP World is collaborating with construction partner Earlcoate on the project, which follows their previous collaboration on a new slipway for the Southampton Sea Cadets earlier this year.
READ: DP World Southampton sets vessel container handling record
Jonathan Scott, Head of Engineering at DP World Southampton, said: “With our £15 million ($18.8 million) outlay on this outstanding new facility for drivers we are investing in a vital part of the supply chain. At a time when the pressure to manage costs, maintain reliability and improve speed has never been greater, we are acutely aware that supply chains rely on people who deserve to be looked after.
“DP World is building a unique array of assets and suite of capabilities, helping our UK and European customers stay competitive in a fast changing and unpredictable trading environment. No-one can match us for the diversity of our assets or the breadth of our supply chain capabilities and there will be more investments in the UK in 2024.”
DP World leased the land for the driver wellness facility from Port of Southampton operator ABP in January of this year, and it is the latest initiative to be done as part of DP World’s £1 billion ($1.25 billion) investment in its UK operations over the next 10 years.
In April 2023, DP World Southampton achieved a new record in container handling for the second week in a row.
