Heanor Haulage set to sell depot to Asda

Heanor Haulage is on the brink of selling its depot in Nottinghamshire to retail giant Asda and moving its operation to a new site. Heanor chairman Peter Searson says the deal depends on Asda getting planning permission for a new store on the Langley Mill site, but that Heanor has accepted Asda's offer. The amount the supermarket is paying has not been revealed.

Searson says that it is possible that Heanor would stay at Langley Mill and simply move "into our backyard" to continue its operations. Asda is planning a a 36,000ft2 store with 354 car parking spaces, creating 370 new jobs in the town.

Searson says that Heanor Haulage, a specialist heavy haulier, has been having a tough year but would definitely be continuing in business after the move. Since the recession set in Heanor has laid off five staff but still employs 55 people and runs 30 vehicles, all 44 tonnes or heavier.

Searson says: "We are going to keep going, but there is no denying that the recession has been terrible. We've been in business for 75 years this July, and this is the worst we have ever known."