Verdion has launched the second phase of its iPort logistics hub with a 731,000 sq ft (67,912 sq m) letting to a major online retailer.

Set to complete in Q2 2020, the new mega-warehouse will be the first building to start on site on the 300 acre (121 ha) second phase, which covers the southern part of iPort and includes landscaping and environmental buffer zones.

iPort spans 800 acres (324 ha) next to the M18 in Doncaster, with capacity for up to 6 million sq ft (557,414 sq m) of logistics space in total. Phase 1 occupiers include Amazon, CEVA, Fellowes and Lidl, with three smaller, speculatively-developed units of 195,000 sq ft (18,116 sq m), 119,060 sq ft (11,061 sq m) and 58,879 sq ft (5,470 sq m) currently ready for occupation.

iPort Phase 2 has capacity for a further 3 million sq ft (278,810 million sq m) of developable logistics space, including this first new mega-warehouse. Outline planning is in place, the site access road is complete, all services including access to 52 MVA power are available, and individual building plots are all currently being prepared for immediate development.

The site is also home to iPort Rail, a state-of-the-art rail terminal operated by Verdion. With capacity for the UK’s longest trains and storage for 1500 TEUs on site, the team expects to increase rail services and finalise government Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status later this year, meaning it can offer quicker access to simplified customs procedures on-site post-Brexit.

John Clements, European Development Director at Verdion, said: “iPort is already the UK’s most advanced multimodal logistics hub and it’s now shaping up to become the most successful. This latest letting reinforces both Doncaster’s position as an e-commerce location of truly national importance and our commitment to successfully delivering high specification logistics space on a very large scale.

“Launching Phase 2 means we can rapidly bring forward more major build-to-suit opportunities alongside smaller scale speculative developments for occupiers needing speed to market.

“This new warehouse will be a great boost for the area. But even with more space committed at iPort, the local workforce has ample capacity for the 2.7 million sq ft of logistics space still to come forward, and we’re pleased to be helping to create more employment opportunities both short and longer term.”

Leasing agents for iPort are Gent Visick, Colliers International and CBRE. The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) is Verdion’s funding partner.