Having partnered with SEGRO, Yusen Logistics is in the process of developing a state-of-the-art logistics facility in Northampton, setting a benchmark with efficiency and environmental responsibility at its core.
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This £280 million investment is one of the largest new-build projects for Yusen Logistics, showcasing the company’s focus on mechanisation—specifically manual processes that can be easily automated with minimal capital investment.
The new 1.2 million sq ft warehouse will be designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, a prestigious certification that evaluates the environmental performance of buildings. As part of its commitment to sustainability, the facility will reduce carbon emissions to net zero during the build and is projected to save approximately four hundred and eighteen tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) in Scope 1 and four hundred and ninety-eight tCO2e in Scope 2 annually once fully operational.
“We took a step back and asked ourselves, ‘If we were to design our warehouse from scratch, how would we approach it?’” said Benjamin Bird, Business Development and Solutions Design Director UK at Yusen Logistics UK.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, when many companies were furloughing staff, we decided to keep all our analysts on board to focus on this project. They’ve been working on designing a new warehouse layout, split into two distinct areas: one side is dedicated to pharmaceutical goods, and the other to ambient consumer goods.
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“What we’ve achieved is a solution where everything—from the moment the pallet arrives and is moved onto the conveyor system to when it is staged for the customer—runs automatically. While we still have manual handling at the start and end of the process, everything in between is automated. This system maximises efficiency while maintaining flexibility, allowing us to streamline operations and meet the needs of our diverse product range.”
Environmental focus
One of the key sustainable features of the new facility is its solar array, which will cover the entire roof of the building. This installation is expected to generate around one thousand eight hundred and fifty megawatt hours (MWh) of energy during the first year of operation. Any surplus energy generated by the solar panels
will be exported to the National Grid, helping to provide green energy to the wider community.
“We are excited about how the solar power generated here will not only support our own operations but will also contribute to the national push for cleaner energy,” said Bird.
“We’re already generating more carbon savings than expected, which means we’ll be able to create our own carbon credits,” Bird added. “Our goal is to generate real, verifiable carbon credits that we can then sell to our customers.”
Yusen Logistics already procures green energy as part of its Zero Carbon programme, which excludes natural gas from its operations. This commitment to renewable energy aligns perfectly with the company’s environmental objectives and supports its pledge to reach net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2030.
Bird further noted that the development is an example of how innovation can work hand in hand with environmental sustainability.
“The design of this facility takes into account the latest energy-efficient technologies, from renewable energy solutions to low-carbon construction practices. By incorporating these elements into the build, we’re not only future-proofing the facility but also ensuring that we’re doing our part to help tackle climate change,” he said.
Logistical efficiency
The Northampton location is strategically positioned with exceptional connectivity to major transport links, including direct access to the M1 motorway and close proximity to public transportation options.
The site also benefits from its location adjacent to SEGRO’s thirty-five-acre Strategic Rail Freight Terminal, providing Yusen Logistics with a unique opportunity to offer rail freight solutions to its customers. This access to rail freight will result in significant carbon dioxide (CO2) savings for inbound transport, further reducing the carbon footprint of operations.
Bird highlighted the value of rail freight in achieving sustainability goals.
“Being able to provide rail freight solutions at this site is a huge advantage. Rail transport is one of the most environmentally efficient methods of moving goods, and this facility enables us to offer our customers an even more sustainable option for their supply chains. It’s a win-win situation for both businesses and the environment,” he explained.
In addition to the energy-efficient design and transport advantages, the warehouse facility is equipped with two hundred and twenty electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, reflecting Yusen Logistics’ commitment to a cleaner, greener fleet. This includes support for Yusen Logistics’ own all-electric company car fleet, which is part of its broader strategy to reduce emissions across all aspects of the business.
Advanced solutions
The facility is designed to support a wide variety of storage and logistical needs. It will feature seventy loading docks and six level access doors, making it ideal for high-volume operations. The warehouse will also support chilled storage, compliant with MHRA and GDP standards for healthcare storage, as well as ambient storage for multiple users—demonstrating its versatility in meeting the diverse needs of customers.
“You can’t easily retrofit this level of automation into an existing operation,” Bird declared. “Normally, if we were pursuing a project like this, we’d have to find a customer willing to fund the automation upfront. But with this project, we’ve taken a different approach. We’ve decided to move forward with the investment and then find customers to fill the space.
“We’ve already funded the infrastructure ourselves. This means that customers don’t have to make a large upfront investment. Instead, we’re able to offer a more flexible pricing model where customers pay a consistent fee based on their average volumes.”
Looking to the future
With full operations expected to begin in summer 2025, the Yusen Logistics facility at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton is poised to showcase the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, innovation, and customer satisfaction in action.
“We are incredibly excited about the potential of this project. It represents the future of logistics: a future where sustainability and efficiency go hand in hand,” concluded Bird.
“Our goal is to grow in the UK, and that’s a key focus for us as we expand beyond Japan. However, one of the challenges we face is that we can’t continue relying on manual processes if we want to keep up with demand. Additionally, we recognise that competitors will eventually adopt similar automation solutions, so we want to be an early adopter rather than fall behind.
“This facility will not only support our business growth but will also serve as a model for the entire logistics industry in terms of how we can make our operations more sustainable and environmentally responsible.”
