Jenkins, which has had a presence at the port for 10 years, will build a new warehouse that will offer a bespoke state-of-the-art paper and pulp facility. Tony McDonough reports

Logistics provider Jenkins is to invest £17m in a new custom-built warehouse at the Port of Liverpool.

The firm, which specialises in paper, pulp and other forest products, has been a tenant at the port in Seaforth for 10 years and has reached an agreement on managed services with Peel Ports at Liverpool and London Medway, with the aim of increasing traffic significantly at both locations.

The commitment secures more than 500,000 sq ft of warehouse space, 300,000 sq ft of which is new investment in a bespoke state-of-the-art paper and pulp facility at the Port of Liverpool.

It will provide a major increase in capacity at Liverpool allowing Jenkins to increase its throughput. Construction on the warehouse is due to begin 2019 and be completed in 2020.

Operating from eight locations in the UK and Ireland, Jenkins provides stevedoring and specialised materials handling, dedicated quayside warehousing, and a range of other warehouse and transport services. The company is owner-managed and been operating for 35 years.

Paul O’Hare, managing director of Jenkins, said: “We’re really excited about this major new development in Liverpool that will significantly increase our footprint in the UK and allow us to expand the range of services we can offer our customers in the North West.”

The news comes just days after the Port of Liverpool secured a new deal with Chinese shipping giant COSCO which means the five biggest shipping lines all now operate freight routes out of the Mersey.

Mark Whitworth, chief executive of Peel Ports, added: “We’re seeing increased demand for imports of paper and pulp  products, especially in the South East, where our new managed service with Jenkins will provide the capacity for market growth that our customers are looking for.”