Minister opens new distribution facility at Harbour Estate

Regional Development Minister, Peter Robinson has welcomed the opening of a multi-million pound, state-of-the-art warehouse and distribution facility at Dargan Road, Belfast Harbour Estate.

The purpose built 100,000 sq ft facility undertaken by Belfast Harbour Commissioners for Roadferry Ltd to utilise under a long-term lease, employs more than 40 staff at the site.

Speaking at the official opening the Minister said: “Belfast Harbour Commissioners are once again at the forefront in providing modern logistics facilities for the best of Northern Ireland’s industry and commerce. This is an excellent example of public private partnerships in action.

“Northern Ireland’s peripheral location requires such modern facilities and innovation to ensure that local companies can remain competitive.”

The Minister told guests that the Department for Regional Development in formulating its Regional Transportation Strategy, had taken on board the views expressed by the business and commercial community that our roads must be improved to contribute to greater efficiency in supply chain management.

Mr Robinson added: “I am confident that the Regional Transportation Strategy, particularly the £385 million identified for highway improvements on the Regional Strategic Transport Network, will provide significant benefits for freight transport and the economy in general.

“The location of this new facility at the heart of Northern Ireland’s transportation network means that it is ideally poised to take advantage of the many benefits which will flow from the implementation of the Strategy.”

The Minister congratulated Belfast Harbour Commissioners for their continued vision in investing in the provision of such facilities and said that he applauded the Roadferry Group for its expression of confidence in Belfast Port and the Northern Ireland economy.

The Roadferry Ltd facility is built on a six acre site only metres from the roll-on roll-off and container terminals, which serve the key shipping routes to Liverpool and Heysham.

Roadferry Ltd, which was the pioneer of roll-on roll-off services across the Irish Sea, employs more than 250 people within its network of depot in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland and operates a fleet of over 600 vehicles.

(MB)