MAG (Manchester Airports Group) has appointed Prologis as development partner for a new industrial and logistics and advanced manufacturing park near East Midlands Airport (EMA).
A planning application for the new park, which is a designated East Midlands Freeport tax site, has been submitted to North West Leicestershire District Council. If approved, it will generate up to 2,000 new jobs and help to unlock £1bn of investment in and around the airport.
As part of the partnership, Prologis will deliver a dedicated centre for logistics job training and education in Leicestershire. The centre will host the Prologis Warehousing and Logistics Training programme, which will provide local people with the skills and experiences needed to begin and progress their career in logistics.
Rachel Reeves, chancellor of the exchequer, said: “Economic growth is the number mission of our Plan for Change to raise living standards in every part of the country. This investment in East Midlands Freeport is a clear demonstration of the UK’s strength as a hub for innovation, will create thousands of new jobs driving growth in the region and strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in advanced manufacturing and logistics. Together we are kick starting our economy, driving growth and getting more money in people’s pockets.”
Steve Griffiths, managing director of EMA, added: “I’m delighted to announce Prologis as our global development partner and excited by the prospect of unlocking significant investments in East Midlands Freeport for the region. This is an exciting step forward for growth in and around the airport, as our unrivalled cargo operation continues to act as a catalyst for investment in our region and we look at ways to build on its success.”
Paul Weston, regional head at Prologis UK, said: “Our partnership with MAG aims to realise the full potential of this strategic hub for international logistics. Our shared vision is to leverage the freeport status and central location of EMA to create a high-impact gateway that drives economic growth, innovation and employment opportunities across the Midlands. By bringing our expertise in logistics developments to the table, we are confident that our partnership will unlock significant benefits for both the local community and the broader UK economy.”
Tom Newman-Taylor, CEO of East Midlands Freeport, added: “We welcome this announcement and Prologis’ commitment to East Midlands Freeport and this unique opportunity to drive transformative growth in the region. This is a positive first step in realising the full potential of the Freeport’s tax sites which, when fully developed, will be transformative for the East Midlands economy. Working collaboratively with all our partners we can realise our ambition of creating 20,000 jobs and unlocking billions of public and private investment into the region.”
