Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com has acquired a major logistics site near Leicester, England. It further strengthens its presence in the UK’s so-called Golden Triangle – the area within the Midlands of England known for its concentration of logistics facilities. The acquisition is primarily focused on expanding JD.com’s logistics and distribution capabilities in the UK, rather than raising consumer brand awareness. The site includes two large existing warehouses and an adjacent development plot, offering both immediate capacity and potential for future expansion.
The acquisition comprises two large existing warehouses totalling 231,000 sq ft (about 21,460 sqm), alongside an adjacent development site capable of supporting up to 678,000 sq ft (63,000 sqm) of new Grade A logistics space. Strategically positioned close to the M1 and M69 motorways, the site provides rapid access to a population of nearly one million within 20km and 90% of the UK within a four-hour drive. However, unlike many modern logistics developments, the site has no direct intermodal rail access.
Strategic expansion in the Golden Triangle
JD.com, through its property arm Jingdong Property, has been steadily building a UK warehouse network since its first acquisition in Milton Keynes in 2022. The Leicester deal increases the company’s UK warehouse portfolio to nearly 3.93 million sq ft (365,000 sqm). That twenty per cent increase underscores its commitment to expanding its European logistics capabilities.
“Our new UK investment strengthens Jingdong Property’s investment footprint in the market,” said Kai‑yan Lee, Regional CEO for Jingdong Property Europe and the Americas – the relevant subsidary of JD.com. “[It] reflects our long-term commitment to supporting regional economic development and enhancing the local supply chain ecosystem as one of the most active industrial and logistics investment managers in the market. The assets will benefit from Jingdong Property’s strong expertise in developing, operating and managing industrial and logistics space, ensuring the delivery of best-in-class industrial warehousing infrastructure and services that support the evolving needs of both the existing and future occupiers.”
High-standard facilities and sustainability
The Leicester warehouses are fully operational and meet BREEAM Excellent and EPC A environmental standards (recognised marks for build quality and energy efficiency). They also feature electric vehicle charging infrastructure, with potential for rooftop solar installation, aligning with JD.com’s sustainability objectives in logistics operations.
The combination of ready-to-use facilities and a greenfield site offers the flexibility to support immediate logistics requirements while allowing substantial future expansion, meeting growing demand for e-commerce and third-party distribution services in the region.
Advisory and professional support
The acquisition was facilitated with legal advice from Dentons, tax and corporate finance support from BDO, and technical advisory from Colliers. Industry analysts say the deal highlights the continued attractiveness of the Logistics Golden Triangle as a strategic logistics hub for global investors.
By strengthening its UK property portfolio, JD.com is positioning itself to provide faster fulfilment and distribution across the UK and Europe, reflecting the company’s broader international expansion strategy in logistics and e-commerce.
JD.com’s Leicester acquisition represents a large single‑site investment by UK standards. Typical regional logistics units are 50,000–200,000 sq ft (4,500–18,500 sqm), making this a significant “big box” deal. Its location in the Golden Triangle — the UK’s busiest logistics hub — and the site’s expansion potential make it especially valuable for e-commerce and pan-European distribution, even if larger multi-site portfolios exist.