A NEW logistics depot is set to bring more than 100 full-time jobs to the area.

The Hermes hub in Great Bank Road, Westhoughton, is part of a hybrid planning application for three such warehouses. first unveiled in June 2020 by development consultancy Lichfields.

More than 615 jobs were pledged if all three developments become a reality.

The new Hermes unit, on the west of the site,will consist of a warehouse and office space, while a second unit to the east, for which an occupier has not yet been secured, will have a three-storey office building alongside its warehouse.

While councillors in the area have welcomed the new jobs being created, they have shared concerns over the proximity of the site to the residents, and the impact on air pollution levels.

Westhoughton South’s Cllr David Wilkinson said: “We welcome the new jobs on the former Bernstein’s site, which was derelict for many years.

“The new building however, and its size, together with the very close proximity to residents on adjoining streets is a new level of disaster.”

There have also been proposals submitted in an outline application for an additional industrial unit of up to 5,000 square metres or additional car parking spaces.

Once operational, the development is thought to create 615 direct jobs, with a further 250 supply chain jobs, according to Lichfields’ estimates.

Cllr Chris Hill, who also represents Westhoughton South, added: “I believe the jobs that the company will bring in is fantastic, and I’ve heard that Hermes is pretty active in the communities that they set up in, so hopefully they will become an asset to this community.

“However I am concerned about our infrastructure due to currently inadequate roads which already has us seeing crazy amounts of traffic at times, as well as our pollution levels, whilst we are already dealing with the Clean Air Zone.

“But hopefully their new partly electric fleet will make that issue redundant.”

The new facility will be able to handle over 220,000 parcels each day, three times as many as its previous site in the area, with the ability to operate 24/7 if required.

It forms part of an ongoing investment programme by Hermes UK to expand its capacity, to meet the huge demand created by increased online shopping at home during the pandemic, and the continuing growth in the sector.

The new depot comes with electric vehicle charging points, to support Hermes ParcelShop fleet’s electric vehicles, which now make up 30 per cent of their vehicles.

Phil Howard, depot general manager, Hermes UK, told The Bolton News: “We are all very excited here at Bolton to be moving into our new home.

“It shows the faith the business has in Team Bolton to deliver a world-class service from this world-class facility.

“We are all very grateful for this opportunity and would just like to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped make this happen.”

The new distribution depot at the 77,800sqft warehouse, will start operating later this month, according to the firm.