DPD Signs First Lease at Tritax Park Queens’ Cambridge Development 2026

Key Points

• DPD has agreed to lease a new 5,800m² parcel distribution hub at Tritax Park Queens’ Cambridge.
• The hub will be the first tenant at a larger proposed 82,868m² mixed-industrial and logistics development on 123 hectares.
• Tritax Big Box Developments (TBBD) will submit a detailed planning application to South Cambridgeshire District Council later in 2026.
• The site is next to the A14 Bar Hill Interchange at Junction 25, part of the UK’s strategic road network.
• TBBD is targeting EPC A+ and BREEAM Excellent ratings, with plans for additional community facilities.
• Tom Kennedy, associate development director at TBBD, highlighted DPD as a long-standing client and stressed the need for greater logistics space in Cambridgeshire.
• Louise Ferguson, DPD’s general manager for property, said the site meets DPD’s ESG and location criteria and supports its Net Zero by 2040 goal.
• DPD currently has 36% of its UK delivery van fleet electric and uses hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) in part of its HGV fleet to cut emissions by up to 83% compared with diesel.
• DPD’s broader decarbonisation efforts include 100% renewable electricity, electrification of its company car fleet, and an Eco Fund for biodiversity and climate resilience projects.
• The development is expected to deliver flexible logistics and advanced manufacturing space for a wide range of businesses serving Cambridge and the surrounding region.

Cambridge (Cambridge Tribune) July 06, 2026 – The long-awaited Tritax Park Queens’ Cambridge logistics scheme has taken a decisive step forward after parcel delivery company DPD signed as the first tenant for a new distribution hub on the site. The 5,800m² facility will form part of a larger logistics, advanced manufacturing and employment location serving Cambridge and the surrounding region, according to a statement from Tritax Big Box Developments (TBBD).

With the agreement for lease in place and public consultation completed, TBBD will now submit a detailed planning application to South Cambridgeshire District Council later this year for approximately 82,868m² of mixed industrial and warehousing/logistics development across five units, the developer said. The move marks a significant moment for a project that has been in the pipeline for some time, transforming a speculative brownfield proposal into a scheme with a confirmed anchor user and a clearer path to delivery.

Who is backing the Queens’ Cambridge logistics scheme?

The project is being led by TBBD, a specialist developer focused on large-scale industrial and logistics assets. The company has already worked with DPD on a previous net zero carbon in construction facility in Bicester, according to Tom Kennedy, associate development director at TBBD. Kennedy described DPD as a long-standing client and said the company’s commitment to the Queens’ Cambridge scheme reflects strong market support for the proposed development.

TBBD has set high environmental standards for the scheme, targeting EPC A+ and BREEAM Excellent ratings for the buildings. The developer also plans to include additional community facilities for local residents, aiming to align the project with broader local needs and sustainability goals.

Where exactly will the DPD hub be located?

Tritax Park Queens’ Cambridge spans 123 hectares next to the A14 Bar Hill Interchange at Junction 25 of the A14, part of the UK’s strategic road network, according to TBBD’s site description. The location provides direct access to key routes linking Cambridge with the rest of the country, making it attractive for distribution operators that need fast, reliable connections to major markets.

The proposed development will be divided into five units, with the first 5,800m² parcel hub already reserved for DPD. The remaining units are intended to deliver flexible logistics and advanced manufacturing space for a wide range of businesses, reinforcing the site’s role as a mixed-use employment location rather than a single-purpose warehouse complex.

What do the developers and DPD say about the deal?

As reported by a spokesperson for TBBD, Tom Kennedy said: “We are encouraged to see such strong support from them for this proposed scheme. Greater Cambridgeshire urgently requires more space to support the region’s growth, as recognized in the council’s own evidence base, and Tritax Park Queens’ Cambridge will help cater for this demand with flexible logistics and advanced manufacturing space for a wide range of businesses,” Kennedy said.

His comments underline two key points: first, that there is already recognised demand for additional logistics and manufacturing space in the region; and second, that the scheme is designed to be flexible enough to accommodate different types of occupiers, not just parcel delivery firms.

Louise Ferguson, general manager, property, DPD, said: “We believe Tritax Park Queens’ Cambridge meets our stringent criteria – both in terms of ESG credentials and location. TBBD’s commitment to design low-carbon buildings with high green building certifications is in line with our pledge to become the UK’s most sustainable delivery service provider and we look forward to working closely with TBBD to bring this site forward,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson’s statement highlights how DPD’s decision is driven not only by location but also by environmental performance. The company has a Science Based Targets initiative-validated target to reach Net Zero by 2040 as part of Geopost, and the proposed hub is seen as a way to support that ambition through low-carbon infrastructure and high green building certifications.

How does this fit with DPD’s sustainability strategy?

DPD has outlined a range of decarbonisation measures that go beyond the new Queens’ Cambridge hub. The company said 36% of its UK delivery van fleet is currently electric, while hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) is used for part of the year in its HGV fleet, which the company says can cut engine emissions by 83% compared with diesel.

Further efforts include a switch to 100% renewable electricity, electrification of its company car fleet, and an Eco Fund that supports biodiversity and climate resilience projects nationally and internationally. The new facility at Tritax Park Queens’ Cambridge is intended to complement these measures by providing a low-carbon operational base that aligns with DPD’s broader environmental goals.

By choosing a site with EPC A+ and BREEAM Excellent targets, DPD is effectively embedding its sustainability commitments into the physical infrastructure of its network, rather than relying solely on operational changes such as vehicle electrification or fuel switches.

What are the next steps for the project?

The immediate next step is for TBBD to submit a detailed planning application to South Cambridgeshire District Council later in 2026, following the completion of public consultation and the securing of DPD as the first tenant. The application will cover the full proposed footprint of around 82,868m² across five units, rather than just the initial DPD hub.

If approved, the development will proceed in phases, with the DPD parcel distribution hub likely to be the first unit to be constructed and occupied. The remaining units will then be marketed to other logistics and advanced manufacturing businesses, subject to market conditions and the outcome of the planning process.

Background: The development of Tritax Park Queens’ Cambridge

The Tritax Park Queens’ Cambridge scheme has been in development for several years as part of a broader push to expand logistics and industrial capacity around Cambridge, a region that has experienced strong growth in advanced manufacturing, technology and distribution. The site occupies 123 hectares of land next to the A14 Bar Hill Interchange, a location that has long been identified as suitable for large-scale logistics due to its proximity to the strategic road network.

TBBD purchased and prepared the site with the intention of creating a multi-unit logistics and advanced manufacturing park, rather than a single warehouse. Public consultation has been completed, and the agreement for lease with DPD now provides a clear anchor tenant that strengthens the case for planning approval and helps justify the scale of the proposed development. The project aligns with local evidence that Greater Cambridgeshire requires additional space to support economic growth, according to statements from TBBD.

Prediction: How this development can affect businesses and communities in Cambridgeshire

For logistics and manufacturing businesses

The arrival of DPD as the first tenant is likely to increase confidence among other logistics and advanced manufacturing firms that the Queens’ Cambridge site is viable and well positioned. This could lead to a broader pipeline of interested occupiers, potentially reducing vacancy risks once the full five-unit scheme is approved and built. Companies looking for flexible logistics space with high environmental standards may find the site particularly attractive, especially those with net zero or sustainability targets similar to DPD’s.

For local residents and the wider community

The developer’s plan to include additional community facilities suggests that the project is intended to deliver benefits beyond pure employment, such as recreational space, local services or training opportunities. If these elements are delivered as promised, the development could help mitigate some of the usual concerns about large logistics sites, such as increased traffic, noise and visual impact. Conversely, if community facilities are delayed or scaled down, local opposition could grow during and after the planning process.

For the regional economy and transport network

A successful Tritax Park Queens’ Cambridge could strengthen Cambridge’s position as a logistics and advanced manufacturing hub, supporting jobs and investment in the wider region. However, the A14 Bar Hill Interchange is already a busy junction, and a multi-unit development of this scale will add to traffic pressures if not managed with robust transport mitigation measures. The planning application will therefore be a critical test of whether the proposed infrastructure, highway improvements and operational controls can accommodate the additional traffic without undermining local quality of life.

In summary, the DPD agreement marks a pivotal moment for the Queens’ Cambridge scheme, moving it from speculative proposal to a development with a confirmed anchor user and a clearer route to delivery. The impact on businesses, residents and the transport network will depend on how the planning process handles scale, environmental standards and community benefits, and on how quickly the remaining units can be leased once construction begins.