Traffic management and highway safety vehicle specialist, Blakedale, has opened a new site in Snodland, Kent, strengthening its ability to serve the Northgate Group’s southern customers.
The new facility will allow Blakedale to distribute their range of specialist vehicles to its southern customer base, with several vehicles available on-site. This includes 3.5t traffic management vehicles, Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs), 7.5t Arb Tippers, and 18t Impact Protection Vehicles (IPVs).
The site will also support customers of the wider Northgate Group, giving them easier access to Blakedale’s specialist vehicles. Snodland is the first of six new distribution hubs set to open across the next year, significantly expanding Blakedale’s national reach and ensuring customers can access specialist vehicles closer to where they operate.
The new branch builds on major recent investments at Blakedale’s Chorley headquarters, which has been expanded to include four specialist vehicle build bays, a dedicated parts store, a commercial vehicle repair facility, and a brand-new HGV inspection pit with heavy-duty vehicle lifts.
These facilities allow Blakedale to deliver a complete end-to-end solution for specialist vehicle build and maintenance, including crash cushion inspection, servicing, and repairs.
This forms part of the group’s One Road initiative, which provides customers of Northgate, Blakedale, FridgeXpress, and ChargedEV with a single point of contact for vehicle hire, fleet management, and electrification services.
Supported by a bodybuilder network, Blakedale completes approximately 350 conversions per year and operates a growing fleet of more than 1,000 vehicles nationwide.
Jon Taylor, Managing Director at Blakedale, said: “Opening in Snodland is a significant step in our growth journey. It ensures we can support our southern-based customers more effectively while also strengthening the Northgate Group’s ability to deliver specialist vehicles as part of a fully integrated service.”