Investing in UK supply chain resilience

The facility builds on the GB£40m which the operator has already invested in the resilience of its operations at Southampton since 2021, allowing it to further develop its capabilities across the supply chain.

“We are delighted to announce this major step forward in the facilities we provide for drivers at Southampton, which will help to ensure that they are fit and rested to keep the supply chain moving,” said Ernst Schulze, UK chief executive at DP World.

“The new land will also free up valuable storage space to expand further our rail interconnectivity. Our investment in rail at both Southampton and London Gateway eases congestion on the roads, with 300,000 trucks taken off UK roads each year.”

Resilience work

The driver facility will include a restaurant, showers, toilets and 24-hour security and will reduce the number of vehicles having to park up for rest periods elsewhere in the local area. 

It will also increase the size of the storage area used for containers moved by road and rail. 

The new site, which was previously used for car storage and is expected to be fully operational this year, has been leased from Port of Southampton owner ABP.

DP World’s driver facility is the latest investment in the UK by the operator.

A new GB£350m fourth berth at London Gateway now under construction, which will lift capacity by a third when it opens in 2024. 

Over the last ten years DP World has invested GB£2 billion in the UK, supporting thousands of jobs. Another GB£1 billion of investment has been earmarked for the UK over the next ten years, making the country the company’s largest investment outside the Middle East.