Co-op gets green light for Bristol DC

The Co-operative Group has been granted planning permission for a 435,000ft2 DC in Avonmouth by Bristol City Council.

The facility, which is due to open early next year, will be run in-house by Co-op's logistics operation and will serve 400 stores in Bristol, the South-West and south Wales.

In January, the supermarket announced its plans to reorganise its distribution network, which it has been revamping since its acquisition of Somerfield in 2009. The rejig will see depots in Halesowen, Peterborough and Thetford close during the next 18 months.

Part of the changes include Norbert Dentressangle undertaking transportation from Co-op's new 500,000ft2 DC in Andover, Hampshire, which is due for completion in March.

The Avonmouth warehouse, which has a 20-year lease, will replace facilities in the South-West comprising of DCs in Wellington, Portbury and Bridgwater, a Wincanton-run depot and formerly part of the Somerfield network.