Panattoni Park Aylesford Named Best Overall Logistics Park At IAS Awards
Panattoni, the company with major ambitions to redevelop another major site in Kent has just seen its first Kent logistics and distribution developments crowned ‘Best Overall Scheme – Logistics Park’ at the highly regarded IAS Awards.
Panattoni Park Aylesford’s successful journey, from the purchase of a vacant brownfield site through planning, construction and to being fully let in less than five years has made Kent home to one of the UK’s most sustainable logistics and distribution hubs.
The Industrial Agents awards celebrate the success and achievements of the industrial property sector, and it is the latest milestone for the Kent development, which has become a major driver of economic growth, employment and investment across the county.
Developed by Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer, the 90-acre site has been transformed in less than five years from a long-vacant employment area into a fully occupied logistics park serving some of the UK’s best-known businesses, including Amazon, DHL, Evri, Tesco and Fowler Welch. The development now supports around 4,000 jobs and contributes an estimated £180 million annually to the local economy.
The company has recently submitted plans to develop 1.4 million sq feet of high-quality logistics, distribution and manufacturing space on the vacant 70-acre former Marley Works site at Lenham.
The award for Aylesford reflects Panattoni’s commitment to delivering on the promises it made to both customers and the local community when the project was first proposed.
During planning and construction at Aylesford, Panattoni worked with the local community to identify infrastructure needs and deliver improvements, including upgraded transport links, road improvements, support for public transport services and contributions to environmental projects across Kent. The company has also delivered walking and cycling connections, invested millions of pounds in improvements to Bellingham Way and supported nature recovery initiatives with Kent Wildlife Trust.
Tony Watkins, Head of Development: London & South East, who led the Aylesford project, said: “The IAS Awards celebrate success and achievement across the industrial property sector. The win is the latest milestone for the Kent development, which has become a major driver of economic growth, employment and investment across the county.”
“From the outset, our vision was to create a development that would bring lasting benefits to Kent, provide world-class facilities for our occupiers and create opportunities for local people and businesses. We made a series of commitments during the planning process and we are proud to have delivered on them.
“Today, Aylesford is home to thousands of jobs, supports major employers, contributes millions of pounds to the local economy and is helping set new standards for sustainable logistics development. This award belongs to everyone involved in the project, from our occupiers and contractors to local stakeholders and the community.”
Panattoni invested approximately £250 million in delivering the Aylesford development, while adopting an environmentally responsible approach that saw significant quantities of construction materials recycled and reused on site.
The success of Panattoni Park Aylesford demonstrates Kent’s growing importance as a strategic location for logistics, manufacturing and distribution businesses, benefiting from its proximity to London, international ports and major transport corridors. The development has attracted significant inward investment and strengthened Kent’s reputation as a leading destination for business growth.
For Panattoni, the award underlines a simple principle that has helped establish its reputation across the UK and Europe: delivering high-quality developments that meet the needs of customers while creating lasting economic, environmental and social value for local communities.
