Panattoni delivers major new logistics and distribution facility for Tesco in Kent

After completing its construction, Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer, has handed over a 621,000 sq ft facility for Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer, at Panattoni Park Aylesford.

The announcement marks the completion of the £250 million Panattoni project which has secured DHL, Evri, Fowler Welch, Amazon and Marley Tiles on the 90-acre logistics and distribution park in Kent, close to the M20.

The new bespoke built-to-suit Tesco facility was designed in close collaboration with the retailer to meet the company’s specific operational needs. It features a 300,000 sq ft chilled section, a 100,000 sq ft freezer area, and extensive electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for its fleet of HGVs and delivery vehicles, as well as staff parking

The building features 90,000 sq metres of roof-mounted solar panels – equivalent in area to more than 12 Wembley football pitches – is able to generate 5MVa of renewable energy.

Panattoni’s commitment to sustainability saw it crush and recycle 125,000 cubic metres of concrete during the site’s demolition, saving 150,000 kilogrammes of CO₂. With all the recycled concrete being reused during the construction of the park it saved 110,000 lorry miles on the local road network.

All of the buildings at Panattoni Park Aylesford have been rated BREEAM Excellent and EPC ‘A’ certified in terms of their environmental performance.

Panattoni has also delivered five kilometres of roads, paths, and the £8m Bellingham Way link road, easing A20 congestion and reducing pollution, with a bus service planned to link Aylesford to the park and Maidstone. More than 20 acres of land have been restored for nature, supported by a £400,000 invested in partnership with Kent Wildlife Trust, a 30-year recovery scheme at Thornton Wood and Boughton Monchelsea, near Maidstone.

Tony Watkins, Panattoni’s Head of Development for London and the South East, said: “The Tesco facility is the culmination of our vision for the project to deliver cutting-edge operational capabilities for all our tenants. It is helping them to create thousands of jobs and generate substantial economic and environmental benefits for Kent.

“We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved at Panattoni Park Aylesford. This development showcases our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and collaboration with tenants, the local community, and stakeholders. Together, we have delivered a facility that sets a new benchmark for modern logistics.

“The success of Aylesford gave us the confidence to invest in Sittingbourne which will be the largest speculative development in Kent for more than a decade, and we are keen to bring forward other sites in the county to support world-class tenants.”

The state-of-the-art buildings will play a crucial role in Tesco’s ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of its supply chain and bolster its capacity to meet customer demand, integrating advanced technologies to optimise logistics operations.

Stuart Moffat, Head of Development – Distribution at Tesco, said: “We have worked with Panattoni over the past few years to develop a bespoke facility that meets our operational needs while supporting our distribution and sustainability goals. Panattoni has proven to be such an efficient and proactive developer, and a fantastic partner in delivering this project at Panattoni Park Aylesford. This built-to-suit facility is particularly vital for us, incorporating cutting-edge ESG features, including 90,000 sq metres of solar panels and EV charging infrastructure that we have invested in to support our vehicles and staff.”