The site of a former power station has been bought by a real estate investor for £65 million – with plans to turn it into a hub for lorries travelling the UK.

The freehold of the old Littlebrook power station has been acquired by Tritax Big Box, which buys up land for potential logistics projects.

Bosses said the site is a “prime location” next to the M25 and Dartford Crossing which provides “the opportunity for the efficient distribution of goods across London and the home counties”.

They said there is potential for 1.7 million sq ft of logistics distribution buildings – what it calls big box facilities – on the 124 acre site.

There is already consent for about 517,000 sq ft and Tritax aims to apply for planning consent for the remaining land with logistics developer Bericote Properties.

If successful, it aims to begin construction by autumn next year, with buildings to be pre-let.

The company expects preparation costs to come in at about £25 million.

Tritax partner Colin Godfrey said: “We are delighted to be acquiring this prime distribution development site in Dartford.

“Large strategic sites for big box distribution buildings within the M25 are scarce and are in strong demand from occupiers.

“The site is capable of supporting several big box distribution facilities as well as smaller urban logistics facilities for serving the London and South East markets in particular.

“The development of the buildings, in partnership with Bericote, will only commence on a pre-let basis and provide an opportunity for the company to enhance our existing portfolio with further prime logistics investments at an attractive yield on cost.”

The area around Dartford Crossing is popular with logistics businesses distributing traffic from Europe throughout the UK.

The boss of Europa Logistics revealed he expects the firm’s turnover to reach £145 million this year, after moving its logistics headquarters from Erith to Dartford in 2015.

Littlebrook power station was decommissioned in 2015.