Nevilles secures Erith distribution centre

Nevilles has signed a 15-year lease on Erith Logistics Hub in southeast London, securing a new headquarters and global distribution centre for its tabletop products business. The approximately 71,530 sq ft facility has been developed by Padrock and is currently being fitted out for the occupier, with Nevilles expecting to move into the building in April 2027.

The company is relocating from its existing head office premises in Erith, where it has been based since 2000. Retaining its workforce was a central consideration in the decision to remain in the town. The new facility will allow Nevilles to combine its headquarters and distribution activities within a detached warehouse designed for industrial and logistics use.

Erith Logistics Hub is located on Church Manorway within the established Belvedere and Erith industrial area. It has direct access to the A2016 Bronze Age Way, with Junction 1a of the M25 approximately 5.3 miles away and the Dartford Crossing around six miles from the property. Those connections support road freight movements towards London, the southeast, and the wider motorway network.

The building provides 12.5m eaves height, six dock-level loading positions, and two ground-level loading doors. A secure yard approximately 35m deep separates the warehouse loading area from the wider site access arrangements, providing space for vehicle positioning and cargo movements. The specification also includes approximately 526 kVA of electrical power capacity.

Dock-level loading positions allow trailers to be served through elevated warehouse openings, while ground-level doors provide access for vehicles and equipment operating directly from the yard. Having both arrangements gives the occupier options when deciding how to organise goods receipt and dispatch. The final use of each loading position will depend on the internal warehouse layout and the transport equipment selected for Nevilles’ operation.

Storage design is another part of the fit-out process. The property’s eaves height allows for the installation of substantial racking arrangements, subject to the final configuration and relevant safety clearances. Its floor has been designed for a loading capacity of 50kN per sq m, according to the building’s published specification. The actual storage density achievable will depend on product dimensions, pallet weights, racking loads, and the mechanical handling equipment adopted.

The property contains approximately 11,190 sq ft of fitted office accommodation arranged over two floors. This space is included within the overall building area, alongside the warehouse and ancillary accommodation. Integrating offices and distribution functions allows operational management, stock administration, and other business activities to be located at the same premises, although Nevilles has not disclosed the detailed allocation of departments or employees.

Nevilles supplies tabletop products to commercial customers, making inventory availability, picking accuracy, and distribution capacity part of its day-to-day operation. Product ranges can involve differing sizes, packaging formats, and order quantities. The warehouse will need to accommodate those characteristics when goods are received, stored, selected for orders, and prepared for dispatch, but the company has not yet specified the racking, warehouse management system, or automation equipment to be installed.

The transition from an existing distribution location also requires careful sequencing. Stock and equipment must be transferred without unnecessarily interrupting current customer deliveries, while staff need access to the new handling areas and associated systems before the facility can assume its intended workload. Nevilles has confirmed that fit-out is under way, but has not published the timetable for transferring inventory or completing commissioning.

Padrock has marketed the building with BREEAM Excellent environmental credentials and an EPC A+ specification or target. The published property material also identifies photovoltaic panels, electric vehicle charging points, efficient lighting, and features intended to reduce the building’s operational energy requirements. The developer’s specification should be distinguished from measured energy performance under Nevilles’ eventual occupancy, which has not yet been established.

Provision for eight electric vehicle charging points and 37 car parking spaces forms part of the site’s specification. Photovoltaic panels and rooflights are also included in the development, with the latter intended to admit natural light into the warehouse. The effectiveness of these systems will depend on actual electricity consumption, equipment use, and operating hours after the building becomes occupied.

Erith’s industrial area accommodates several large warehouse and distribution operations, including facilities associated with Ocado, Amazon, Lidl, and Tesco. The concentration reflects the area’s established logistics role and its access to London and the motorway network. Nevilles’ decision adds another long-term occupier without requiring the business to relocate its existing management and distribution operation to a substantially different labour market.

The announced lease term provides Padrock with a long-term commitment for the single-unit development. Glenny advised Nevilles on the letting, while DTRE, CBRE, and M1 Agency were joint letting agents for Erith Logistics Hub. The property has been described as approximately 71,530 sq ft in the transaction reporting, while the marketing specification gives a more precise total of 71,532 sq ft; both refer to the same building.

The agreement secures the property rather than completing the operational relocation. Nevilles must finish its fit-out and prepare the site for regular goods handling before the headquarters and distribution centre are fully established. The company intends to occupy the building in April 2027, with the final operating arrangements and any resulting changes to throughput still to be confirmed.