Copart has announced expansion plans for its Bristol operation centre as part of its ongoing growth programme.

The expansion, part of Copart’s re-investment strategy, combines a programme of land acquisition with investment in transport, service and technology.

The programme has already seen more than £30m re-invested in land and transport in 2020.

Originally a 16-acre site, Copart added a further 24 acres in 2019 and says it is ‘accelerating’ plans to develop a further 23 acres, meaning the South West site will cover 63-acres.

In addition to the planned expansion, Copart says it is investing in improvements to the infrastructure, which will include new vehicle preparation areas to enable vehicle inspections, valeting and 360-degree imaging bays.

Jane Pocock, managing director of Copart UK and Ireland, said: “Our passion and determination to keep growing and improving our services to customers remains paramount. We’re incredibly proud to lead the market as we continue to develop our customer offering, technology, and operational capabilities, alongside our land bank.”

Copart announced last year it was creating a new customer service centre as part of its expansion programme.

This latest announcement will add more capacity for Copart's customers’ vehicles with secure storage and enlarged areas for electric vehicles (EVs), flood and fire damaged vehicles, HGV’s and agricultural.

The additional capacity offers contingency land in the event of catastrophes where Copart's insurance customers need surge management services, the company says.

The expansion also includes a conference facility to host customers on-site.

Phil Briggs, director of operation centres, transport and engineering at Copart UK, said “These are exciting times for Copart’s customers as we continue our investment programme in line with their needs.

“Our ongoing investment into land, alongside the extension and improvement of our existing operation centres, will further strengthen our UK wide storage capacity and create job opportunities in the areas where we operate.”