A SHORTLIST is being drawn up to run a new freight hub in Southampton.

As previously reported the city council has received £225,000 of Government funding to set up a sustainable distribution centre (SDC).

The council has drawn up a shortlist of firms, which will be invited to tender for the chance to run the centre at a yet-undecided location.

It will be the destination for a host of different customer goods, which will then be put into location-specific loads destined for towns and cities in the region such as Winchester, Eastleigh and Hedge End.

Council chiefs hope it will have huge environmental benefits by reducing the number of delivery vehicles travelling in the region and cut emissions.

Council environment and transport chief Jacqui Rayment said: “We look forward to appointing a partner in October and working towards a launch of the SDC over the winter. The new project will bring many green benefits to the city and surrounding region through enabling businesses to have a more environmentally sustainable way to receive their deliveries into an area whilst offering a cost effective storage solution.”