Bexley Council have given planning permission for the biggest online grocery centre in the world to be built in Erith, with work getting underway this summer.
The Ocado customer fulfillment centre will serve the whole of the South East, and should generate 3,500 mainly full-time jobs, and £185m local investment.
The council agreed to the plans in the planning committee meeting last night (February 26) and are committed to providing local jobs with no zero hour contracts.
The facility should open in April 2017, and will be on the land adjacent to the former Pirelli Works and Church Manorway.
Ocado is the world's biggest online retailer
Recruitment for operational managers, warehouse operatives, LGV and delivery drivers, engineers and support staff will start in 2016.
Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth Coun Linda Bailey said: "The Conservative administration in Bexley has been working flat out to attract large businesses to the borough to provide growth and jobs.
“It doesn't get much bigger than the proposed Ocado facility that will support a network of existing and new spoke centres around the South East of England.
“The new centre will be handling 200,000 orders per week, and this will mean thousands of new contracted jobs.
“The Council funded Resources Plus team are already speaking to Ocado to maximise the number of locals that get jobs through this exciting development."
Erith and Thamesmead MP Teresa Pearce said: "I am delighted that this development is one step nearer now that planning permission has been granted. This is very good news for Erith.
Teresa Pearce
"I have written to Ocado to ask to meet with them to ensure that the 3,500 job opportunities are first offered to local residents.
"I will be especially pushing for opportunities for those who have been unemployed for more than a year to be given a chance to be recruited."
TODAY'S TOP STORIES
She added: "Ocado is the world’s biggest online grocery retailer, and their decision to base such an important and prestigious facility here is recognition that Bexley has a great offer for businesses."
Director of Development and Engineering at Ocado Jon Hillary said: "We’re delighted that our development plans for the new Erith site have been given the green light. The site will be central to our future growth plans and we’ll be building our latest design of customer fulfilment centre right here in Greater London, bringing 3,500 new jobs to the region."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel