Whistl, the second largest postal operator in the UK, said it will move into a new “super depot” for its North of England operations in late Spring, creating up to 500 jobs.

Whistle, formerly known as TNT, has taken a ten year lease on M&G Real Estate’s Logistics 225 unit at Harworth Group’s flagship Logistics North development in Bolton.

Whistl said the new site would allow it to consolidate existing operations in Leeds and Warrington onto one site that has 33% greater capacity for future expansion of its existing mail, packet and parcel and ecommerce business.

It said it also chose the 224,938 sq. ft. Grade A warehouse at Logistics North due to its immediate access onto Junction 4 of the M61 and that, by combining two existing depots onto one site, it would be able to further improve efficiencies.

Whistl said it will begin a recruitment campaign in the Bolton area in conjunction with Bolton Council and that it has offered staff employed at the existing Leeds and Warrington depots the opportunity to work at the new site.

Whistl joins Aldi, MBDA, Joy Global, Costa Coffee, Green King and Lidl as occupiers at Logistics North.

Logistics North is one of the North West’s largest live commercial developments, with outline planning consent in place for 4 million square feet of commercial space.

Whistl CEO Nick Wells said: “The new depot will enable us to provide an excellent working environment for our colleagues as well enable us to continue providing high quality and efficient services to our customers.

“We look forward to working with Bolton Council on recruiting people to work at Whistl in the coming months.”

Councillor Cliff Morris, Leader of Bolton Council, said: “This clearly demonstrates that Logistics North is the perfect distribution site for business and a key site for the North West.

“With another major company due to be announced soon, it is clear that Bolton is an attractive proposition for business growth.”

David Crowley, Director of Logistics & Industrial Asset Management at M&G Real Estate, said: “The buildings we have funded at Logistics North form an important part of our current 1.4 million square feet speculative logistics programme.

“This early pre let to Whistl underlines the strength of the location and is testament to our ongoing strategy to create core product in prime locations which will provide long term income returns for the funds.

“We shall continue to look for similar opportunities into 2017 and add to our £2.4 billion industrial and logistics portfolio.”