A High Court ruling against Ocado’s plans for a new distribution centre in London has impacted the introduction of its one-hour Zoom delivery strategy.
The online grocer had wanted to open a fulfilment centre close to Yerbury Primary School in Tuffnell Park for its speedy delivery service. However, its case to challenge Islington Council’s reversal of planning approval for the site, which is located on the Bush Industrial Estate and leased from landlord Telereal Trillium, was dismissed in the High Court by Mr Justice Holgate this week.
An Ocado spokesperson said the company was disappointed with the judgement. “Our proposals for the Bush Industrial Estate are to build the greenest and quietest grocery facility in the UK with a 100% electric van fleet.”
However the campaigning Nocado group, which includes parents of children at the school and opposed the plans on air pollution grounds, describes that as “disingenuous” and “greenwash”.
The Tuffnell Park site was part of Ocado strategy for its one-hour Zoom delivery service which aims to deliver from a range of more than 10,000 lines to shoppers within 60 minutes or at a specified time, with a minimum £15 spend. In February it revealed plans for a further 12 micro-fulfilment centres within London, in addition to its first site in West London. Now it says it will continue its search for a site in the north London council area.
