ANOTHER deal has been struck that will see the continued expansion of DP World's London gateway freight and logistics hub.

Transport operator Swain Group is to operate a 2.25 acre distribution facility at a quayside site and under a three year agreement will use it for the temporary storage of imported construction materials such as stone and 'next generation' offsite manufacturing systems which will then be transported onwards by road.

Swain says the location, 200 yards from London Gateway's berth seven, will deliver significant cost and time savings.

Ernst Schulze, Chief Executive of DP World in the UK, said: "I am delighted that Swain Group have chosen to strengthen further their longstanding relationship with London Gateway. At DP World we think ahead and create smarter trade solutions and this lease is an outstanding example of the benefits of port-centric logistics."

Matthew Deer, Managing Director at Swain Group, said: "We handle over 100,000 tons of building materials a year on ships arriving at London Gateway and expect this figure to continue to grow as construction in London and the South East picks up following the pandemic."

"On arrival at the berth DP World will shunt inbound containers to our facility, where our team will unpack the stone product, temporarily store it where necessary, and then assemble outbound orders for transport via our own fleet to destinations across Britain such as garden centres and builders' merchants. This integration of the supply chain will generate cost and time efficiencies both for us and our customers."