WORK on the Royal Mail ‘parcel super hub’ at Omega is continuing apace.

The postal service has announced that it has now begun designing the technical fit out of its new 32,000sq m site on Catalina Approach, which will be the size of four-and-a-half football pitches and process more than 600,000 parcel per day.

Expected to open in the autumn, 370 employees will work at the fully-automated ‘state-of-the-art’ facility.

Royal Mail’s North West Distribution Centre at Winwick Quay will close and relocate to the new branch under the plans, with no jobs being lost as a result.

The current mail processing centre on Orion Boulevard will remain in operation.

National operations director Simon Barker said: “This significant commitment to the north west is just one example of how Royal Mail is changing to drive e-commerce growth across the UK.

“This new site – the first of three parcel hubs to be announced – alongside initiatives like accepting e-retail parcels into our network late in the evening will help us to meet growing demand for next day delivery.

“We are talking to our people who work in and around Warrington and our unions about our proposals for the new site – we want to fully involve them in shaping our operations in the north west and helping us to safeguard high quality employment opportunities in our business.”

‘Ideally situated to meet growing demand for next day delivery’ due to its proximity to large cities and transport links, it is anticipated that the parcel hub will add £1billion to the economy.

Construction contracts have been awarded to seven companies based in Warrington, as well as three others based within 25 miles.