Kent speculative development to be net zero carbon

Sittingbourne, Kent, is going to be home to a net zero carbon logistics park after work began on what will be the county’s largest speculative property development in more than a decade*, thanks to a £150m vote of confidence by the site’s owners, Panattoni.

As the largest logistics real estate developer in the UK and Europe, the company will create Panattoni Park Sittingbourne on a site near Kemsley, and offer a total of 644,000 sq ft, split between two units of 439,000 sq ft and 205,000 sq ft respectively. When built and occupied, the 26-acre site will offer the prospect of 1,069 new jobs for Swale.

Alex Mitchell, Development Manager at Panattoni, said: “Following the commercial success of our nearby Panattoni Park Aylesford, the development off the M20, we know there is significant demand from international businesses looking for high-quality, modern logistics space with strong sustainability credentials, close to London and the channel ports.

“The fact that we are speculatively bringing these two buildings forward is testament to our confidence in Kent, as well as our detailed understanding of what the logistics industry wants as it seeks to improve its operational and environmental performance. Since acquiring the site in September last year, we have already had strong interest from prospective occupiers.”

The company acquired the site at the end of last year from Abrdn, the UK-based global investment company. The two new buildings are expected to be ready to occupy in Q12025.

Panattoni Park Sittingbourne will incorporate the latest sustainability measures, including the installation of roof-mounted photovoltaic panelling and electric vehicle charging points. Access to the national grid means the site can provide 5MVa of power, with a further 1.35MVa of power generated from the incorporated solar panelling, totalling 6.35MVa of power across the park. As a result, the buildings will be targeting net zero carbon status with an energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of ‘A’ and expected BREEAM sustainability rating of ‘Excellent’. 

Panattoni Park Sittingbourne is strategically positioned between London and Dover, four miles north of the M2 and occupiers will benefit from the £100m being invested at Junction 5 and Stockbury roundabout, where work is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

The development provides convenient access to major national and international transport routes, with the Port of Dover less than an hour away and easy connectivity to the M2, M20 and M25 motorways.

Tony Watkins, Panttoni’s Head of Development for the South East and London, said: added: “The development of the site highlights our continued strategy to speculatively develop within densely populated areas, capturing the sustained level of occupier demand for logistics assets with seamless connectivity to local, national and international distribution routes.”

Agents at Panattoni Park Sittingbourne are Savills and CBRE.