EXCLUSIVE: ‘Amazon’ type occupier for former Pets At Home DC

By Liza Helps Property Editor Logistics Matters

PROPOSALS PUT before Stoke-on-Trent Council by Canadian Brookfield Corporation company Amatrix Stoke Prop Co would see the demolition of the former Pets At Home distribution centre and the redevelopment of the site for a 164,505 ft2 facility that would consist of 149,188 ft2 of warehouse space  and 15,317 ft2 of offices at ground and mezzanine level.

The stand out feature of the redevelopment is a three-level multi-storey van deck with 689 van storage bays and 14 motorcycle bays which has been a unique feature of Amazon last mile distribution centres nationwide and as yet not adopted by any other last mile provider.

While no occupier has as yet been identified for the facility the bespoke nature of the plans, which as well as the MSVD, include 81 dispatch loading bays and 85 waiting bays, a dispatch area with 10 level access doors and a service yard with 10 dock and two Euro dock doors, suggest this is not an application for a speculative development.

Stoke-on-Trent Council has recently granted permission for the former  facility to be demolished in a separate application and it is anticipated that the redevelopment proposals will secure a greenlight imminently.

The proposals also include features such as open plan offices, meeting rooms, a breakout room, training room, changing facilities, w/cs, mothers’ room, multi-faith room and storerooms on the mezzanine level.

Amazon currently operates out of an approx. 220,00 ft2 facility built in 2001 on Stanley Matthews Way but its lease terminates in July 2026. 

Both Brookfield and Amazon have been asked to comment. Amazon has responded that it does not comment on speculation or rumour.