UK freight forwarding and logistics group Davies Turner has acquired a newly completed 130,000 sq ft logistics facility near London Heathrow Airport, which will become the new headquarters of Davies Turner Air Cargo. The purchase adds capacity at the UK’s principal international air cargo gateway as the company expands its airfreight operations.

Davies Turner is a family-owned freight forwarding and logistics group founded in 1870 and headquartered in Coleshill, Warwickshire. Davies Turner Air Cargo was formed in 1990.

The group reported turnover of £264 million and pre-tax profit of £15.1 million for the year to 31 March 2025.

The structural driver is location. The site is less than two miles from Heathrow’s cargo terminal and about 500 yards from Junction 14 of the M25, and proximity to airport cargo terminals and road connectivity can influence operational performance and customer service in airfreight.

The facility includes about 70,000 sq ft of high-specification warehouse space with a clear internal height of 12.5 metres, plus two mezzanine floors providing a further 50,000 sq ft. It also has five dock-loading doors, two level-access loading doors and about 10,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation.

James Wheatley, managing director of Davies Turner Air Cargo, described the acquisition as a major milestone for the business and reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the UK airfreight market. He said the facility would provide the capacity, infrastructure and operational flexibility to support customers’ future growth.

The building has achieved BREEAM Excellent certification and an EPC A+ rating, supporting the group’s objective of investing in modern logistics infrastructure as energy performance becomes more important in warehouse operations.

The site is being prepared for occupation, with an official opening scheduled for later in 2026. Once operational, the headquarters will give Davies Turner Air Cargo a dedicated platform for managing its Heathrow-related operations and expanding its presence in the market.

For the sector, the purchase shows a forwarder investing in owned, airport-adjacent space as Heathrow remains a key gateway for UK international airfreight.

Source: Cargo Newswire / Davies Turner / Insider Media / Wikipedia