EUROPE'S leading catalogue store chain Argos has chosen Haydock Cross industrial and distribution park as a base for a 29,352 sq ft distribution facility which will service its new home shopping pilot scheme in the Granada region.

The owners of Haydock Cross - Allied London Industrial Properties - report that Argos has taken a 15-year lease on the unit which is due to open in June.

The new facility, which will create some 40 jobs locally, will initially act as a 'giant stockroom' servicing a selection of stores in the North West and subsequently for a home shopping pilot scheme which starts at the end of July.

A spokesperson for Argos said: "We needed a strategically-positioned location for our new facility, one which would provide easy access to the motorway network and would be central to our pilot area for the home shopping pilot scheme. Haydock Cross fits the bill and we are looking forward to launching our new operation there."

Tim Pain, managing director of Allied London Industrial Properties, commented: "We are delighted that Argos has chosen Haydock Cross for its new operation and feel that their move to the park further endorses its position as the leading industrial and distribution location in the North West."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.