Hinchingbrooke Logistics Park

Logistics is increasingly recognised as critical national infrastructure in national planning policy. Logistics jobs have grown by 26% over the past decade, surpassing the 14% growth across the broader economy, driven principally by the surge in e-commerce.

An Employment Land Needs Assessment focussed on Huntingdonshire and Peterborough was undertaken by Iceni in November 2024. This found that demand for modern industrial and logistics units in Huntingdonshire and Peterborough is high, with only a handful of units in the development pipeline actually built out.

Take-up is outpacing delivery, with any new units immediately let. The space that is available is typically smaller in scale, and there remains a desperate need for more units. There are no strategic-scale employment sites available in Huntingdonshire, despite significant demand for employment of this type, as outlined in Huntingdonshire’s Economic Growth Strategy.

Newlands Park, Huntingdon offers the opportunity for local businesses to expand and progress into larger buildings as they grow. This will help to retain business locally.

The logistics sector provides employment opportunities for those with limited qualifications or experience. A survey by Frontier Economics found that 20% of logistics workers were previously unemployed, with one-quarter of those being long-term unemployed. As the industry evolves, roles increasingly require higher skill levels offering paths for career growth that are aligned with students’ technical skills gained from supply chain management courses delivered by nearby further education providers.

Investment in the logistics industry can aid delivery of new housing via the funding of strategic infrastructure, such as highway upgrades and link roads. Logistics should therefore be viewed as an enabler of wider sustainable growth.