A TRANSPORT firm is hoping to create 250 jobs by taking over a former supermarket distribution site.

CM Downton is planning to base 150 lorries at the Newhouse Farm industrial park in Chepstow after taking a four-year lease on Tesco’s 282,297 sq ft warehouse – recently used to film Saturday night TV drama Atlantis.

Company boss Andy Downton said: “We are currently recruiting new drivers and other staff to build a local team of around 250 employees.”

The new site is close to another Downton facility in Chepstow and brings the Gloucestershire firm’s total number of UK depots to 16.

He said it identified the Severnside town as an ideal location for serving customers in South Wales because it has easy access to the M4 and good links with the rest of the UK, while the ending of bridge tolls next year will remove costs of £20 per crossing.

Mr Downton added: “Chepstow is an ideal location for us to invest and expand. We have seen significant growth among our client base in South Wales and this site offered an excellent opportunity for us to expand our capacity in the region and add to our existing network.

“Very few opportunities arise to acquire depots of this size, but this one ticked all the boxes. We are now recruiting additional drivers and other people to work at the site.”

Around 750 people worked at the Tesco Distribution Centre before the supermarket moved its operation across the Severn to Avonmouth in 2009, after 21 years onsite.

From 2013 to 2015, two series of Atlantis, the

fantasy-adventure programme inspired by Greek mythology, were filmed there for BBC One.

Property consul­tancy JLL, who helped arrange the sub-let with Lodders, said it was one of the largest industrial deals of the year in Wales. 

The Newhouse centre south of Junction 2 of the M48 consists of 15 industrial units, and other high profile occupiers include Bidvest, Bond International and ASDA.

Heather Lawrence, senior surveyor at JLL, said: “This is certainly one of the largest industrial buildings in South Wales and it’s fantastic to have this building back in use again.

“The estate has always been popular, but has become even more so in recent months, possibly as a result of the reduced Severn Bridge tolls which come into force in January. 

“It’s also in a good location as it offers excellent access into Wales, as well as the north of England via the A48 to the M5.”