Manheim is planning to relocate its commercial vehicle specialist operation from Leeds to its 10-acre Shepshed auction site.

The remarketing company said the proposal to move the business has come following “a significant period of growth” and cited lack of space at the current Leeds site.

Reopening the Shepshed location would represent a seven figure investment for Manheim, which is also looking to invest further in its 18 auction centres across the UK.

Manheim Shepshed has sold cars and commercial vehicles since it first opened in the 1970s. Its last auction was held in 2012 when the centre was mothballed in favour of a new multi-million pound supercentre that opened in Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire.

If the proposal goes ahead, Manheim Shepshed would be the first commercial vehicle auction centre in the UK to benefit from the investment in a new arrival process, which minimises the number of vehicle movements on site. The commercial vehicles flow from valeting to inspection to imaging to being parked ready for auction. Traditionally, this would have taken four or more individual movements of each vehicle on site.

The increase in commercial vehicles on UK roads is largely due to the rapid growth in online shopping, driven by British consumers.

Home delivery by department stores has risen 53% since 2011, and online food shopping – with ‘store-to-door’ delivery – has increased 37% over the same period.

This year, 30% of all vans and 65% of all trucks sold by Manheim across the UK are bought remotely online.

Tim Hudson, managing director for Manheim Remarketing, said: “Our proposal to recommence vehicle auctions at Shepshed would see the creation of a unique strategic commercial vehicle auction centre of excellence. We are also committed to ensuring that it plays a productive role in the community.”