DPD UK has opened its most environmentally sustainable depot so far at Bicester in Oxfordshire.

The 60,000 square foot hub is in Symmetry Park and is DPD UK’s first ‘net zero carbon in construction’ as regulated by the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC). When it is fully operational it will create up to 250 new jobs for the area.

According to DPD UK, low energy and zero-carbon design principles were incorporated into the building from the start of construction. The carrier projects a 40% reduction in carbon emissions by comparison to a standard depot, a 10% reduction in heating and cooling and a 5% reduction in energy demand.

To achieve this the site has air source heat pumps for heating and cooling as well as 517 square metres of photovoltaic panels on the roof.

At the same time there are 30 electric vehicle charging points to meet future demand. Currently 16 electric vans operate from the site but 33 new ones are due to join the local fleet in the next few weeks.

DPD UK’s head of CSR, Olly Craughan, commented, “The new Bicester DC will be the greenest and most sustainable facility in our UK network. It is an incredible building in its own right, but what it allows us to do is probably even more significant. We serve a wide area from Bicester, including the city of Oxford, and this larger, more up-to-date building means that not only are we more sustainable on the site, but we can also now provide an entirely green delivery service for Oxford businesses and residents.

“We have invested heavily in our regional network in the last 10 years to meet the huge increase in demand for our services. This is our 37th new, purpose-built facility in that time and by far our most ambitious. The building is a key part of our wider plan to deliver to 25 of the largest towns and cities in the UK by only eco-friendly means. This joined-up approach ensures we really are doing our bit to reduce emissions and congestion in and around the city center and it is a concept we are keen to follow elsewhere.”