Morrisons site creates 1,000 jobs

Morrisons is the UK's fourth-largest supermarket group

Supermarket giant Morrisons has announced plans to create 1,000 jobs at a new distribution centre in Kent.

It will be built near the M2 in Sittingbourne, and will feature environmentally-friendly measures, including rainwater harvesting.

The development will be used by Morrisons to service and supply its South East stores.

In 2006 the company sold off its distribution centre in Aylesford with the loss of 1,200 jobs.

The centre will be located at a new development site known as G-Park.

'Growing business'

Morrisons, which is the UK's fourth largest supermarket chain, has agreed to take a 20 year lease across a large-scale warehouse complex split across two units.

Spokesman James Brook said it "will enable us to better service our growing business".

He said the site had been selected in part because of its strategic location and close links to the motorway network.

Included in the plans for the site are measures which will be sympathetic to the environment, including devices which generate power from every vehicle moving in and out of the site.

Other eco-friendly measures will include energy efficient lighting, and low water use appliances.