Panattoni purchases Honda’s 370 acre Swindon Plant in the UK

panattoelement on March 26, 2021

Panattoni purchases Honda’s 370 acre Swindon Plant in the UK

Honda has today announced it has entered into a contract for sale of its Swindon site. Originally purchased by the Japanese car manufacturer in 1985, the site has been sold to Panattoni, Europe’s largest developer of new build industrial and logistics facilities.

In 2019, Honda Motor announced a restructuring of its global automobile manufacturing operations, which included the cessation of production at the UK plant in July 2021, at the end of the current model cycle of the Civic Hatchback. Following the closure announcement, Honda committed to leaving the site in a responsible way, with a sustainable legacy for Swindon.

Jason Smith, Director at Honda of the UK Manufacturing, said: “We are pleased to have identified a capable new owner of the site. From our engagement with Panattoni and initial discussions with Swindon Borough Council, we are confident that the new owner can bring the development forward in a commercially timely fashion and generate exciting prospects for Swindon and the wider community.”

Following the end of production on 30 July 2021, Honda will immediately commence the decommissioning of the Swindon site. The site is anticipated to be legally handed over in Spring 2022, and once the necessary consents have been obtained, Panattoni  will start regeneration and redevelopment shortly thereafter.

James Watson, Development Director for Panattoni, said: “Panattoni is committing to invest over £700 million into the site to attract new employers and provide for existing businesses looking to expand in Swindon. We will be working very closely with Honda and Swindon Borough Council, along with the community and its representatives to regenerate the site.”

Matthew Byrom, Managing Director of Panattoni in the UK, said: “The acquisition of the 370-acre Honda facility demonstrates our capabilities to work at scale. The re- development of this strategic employment site will deliver thousands of new opportunities in roles which underpin the operation of the local and regional economy.”

Susie Kemp, Chief Executive of Swindon Borough Council, said: “The new opportunities outlined by Panattoni will be a major step in Swindon’s rejuvenation following Honda’s exit. Their investment offers a significant boost to the local economy and we are excited by the prospect of this redevelopment creating thousands of jobs for Swindon and the surrounding area. We already have a strong working relationship with Panattoni following their recent development of the adjacent site, Symmetry Park, and look forward to working with them over the next year. We understand that Honda’s key aim was to identify a responsible new owner and I believe today’s announcement demonstrates that.”

As part of its continued efforts to leave a positive legacy in the local community, Honda will assess opportunities for small sections at the edge of the site that are not required for Panattoni’s development to be utilised by the neighbouring communities.

Panattoni will now commence all necessary planning work with Swindon Borough Council, with support from Honda.

For general media enquires please email swindon@panattoni.com or contact 0800 029 77 44.

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Panattoni committing to another half-million sq ft of spec in Derby 

panattoelement on March 22, 2021

Panattoni committing to another half-million sq ft of spec in Derby

Panattoni, the largest developer in Europe, has committed to speculatively develop 515,000 sq ft in Derby, at the heart of the UK’s major road and motorway network.

The developer is advancing its building portfolio with construction beginning on the site this month for the Derby 515 warehouse. At 514,193 sq ft, it is set to be one of the largest single-unit speculative developments under construction in the country, ahead of the Panattoni Wakefield development of 512,850 sq ft.

The building is part of Panattoni’s 900,000 sq ft development at Derby Commercial Park, on Raynesway, two miles east of the city. It is already home to the speculatively built Derby 370 unit, which has recently been let to Alloga UK on a 15-year lease term.

Derby 515 is expected to complete Q4 2021, with the potential for circa 500 jobs to be created.

The building will have 15m clear internal height, 56 dock doors and 8 level access doors, as well as parking for 185 trailers. It will be built to BREEAM ‘Very Good’ and EPC ‘A’ ratings.

Panattoni has also announced a new design to their portfolio which enables the buildings to be split to accommodate two operations. Derby 515 has been designed with a flexible envelope to accommodate a cross-split option, allowing the building to be sub-divided down its length for two occupiers. The cross-split will form two self-contained units of 226,497 sq ft and 287,416 sq ft. Each would have 28 dock doors, 4 level access doors, a secure self-contained yard, a car park and own gatehouse.

Andy Preston, Development Manager for Panattoni Derby 515 said: “The new warehouse will be built to our normal high specifications offering flexibility and energy cost savings to occupiers. This will be one of the largest single-unit spec builds in the country and will benefit from being in one of the UK’s centres for advanced manufacturing and logistics.”

Kuehne + Nagel’s decision to locate a 632,000 sq ft logistics unit for Drinkflow Logistics for Heineken and the 250,000 sq ft XPO logistics unit for Ted Baker at this location underpins the area’s importance as one of the Midlands’ leading logistics locations.

Other big-name occupiers in the area include Rolls-Royce and Bombardier, and many of their key suppliers.

Derby Commercial Park is 11 miles from East Midlands Airport, the UK’s  second largest cargo airport, and within easy HGV reach of East Midlands Maritime, DIRFT and Hams Hall rail freight terminals and ports from Liverpool in the North West, Felixstowe on the East coast, London Gateway and Southampton.

Occupiers will have access to a large workforce experienced in logistics and transport services, with almost 140,000 people living within a 15-minute drive of the site.

The letting agents are Avison Young, CBRE and Burbage Realty.

For more information, please visit this link.

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Panattoni secures permission for 1.9 million sq ft in the South East of England

panattoelement on March 19, 2021

Panattoni secures permission for 1.9 million sq ft in the South East of England

Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer, has been granted permission to deliver 1.9 million sq ft of high-quality warehousing and distribution space in Kent to serve London and the South East.

The 90 acre site, previously home to Aylesford Newsprint and close to Junction 4 of the M20, is expected to be fully developed and occupied by 2024.

In what will be the company’s largest UK development to date, Panattoni Park Aylesford is a £180m investment in high quality sustainable industrial development, infrastructure, parking, landscaping and access, including a new £7m link road.

With the outline permission secured, Panattoni can build a single unit up to 1.2 million sq ft, alongside other units, with the remaining space built to suit the specific needs of the tenants, and subject to a detailed planning application.

The development has been designed to secure the 10% biodiversity net gain required by Government. Each building will have a supertight envelope and utilise air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels, roof lighting and energy efficient building materials.

Work is expected to get under way this spring. Panattoni’s first priority will be to deliver the new link road, which will serve the park, improve the local transport network and reduce congestion between Junctions 4 and 5 of the M20.

Anthony Watkins, Development Director at Panattoni, said: “Aylesford will be our flagship development in the UK and it offers the all-important location, combined with space, height, power, ample gas and water supply, demanded by today’s logistics industry.

“Since announcing our proposals at Panattoni Park Aylesford we have received very strong levels of interest at this stage in the project from potential tenants to take space here in Kent.”

Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council approved Panattoni’s plans for the redevelopment of the site next to the River Medway, which has stood vacant since 2015.

Panattoni was advised during the planning process by Barton Willmore, transport consultants Vectos, PA Connect, and PR consultants Maxim.

The agents for the site are CBRE, Avison Young and JLL.

More information on Panattoni Park Aylesford can be found by clicking this link.

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Panattoni to deliver largest distribution centre for TK Maxx

panattoelement on March 9, 2021

Panattoni to deliver largest distribution centre for TK Maxx

The 658,051 sq ft distribution centre will be located in Sulechów, Western Poland. This facility will help to supply products to TK Maxx shops in Poland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.

Tailor-made project. On 57 acres of land Panattoni will execute a strategic investment for TJX Europe. It will be a processing centre supporting to supply products in Poland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. The BTS facility of 358,051 sq ft – of which 60,751 sq ft will be occupied by rooms for personnel and offices – is being built in Western Poland, in Sulechów – 13 miles from Zielona Góra. The investment will be ready by autumnwinter 20222023. It will include an attractive new landscaped area, be self-contained with full security fence. The Sulechów facility will be the company’s sixth distribution centre in Europe.

Dorota Jagodzinska, Managing Director at Panattoni, comments: “Thanks to its strategic location in the centre of Europe, Poland has increasingly become a hub for companies’ operations across the continent. That benefits especially the western part of the country, thanks to the proximity to the German border and it attracts leaders from various industries, as an ideal location for development even during a pandemic”. She added: “We are pleased that TJX Europe keeps investing and growing successfully, and that they have chosen us as an important partner in this development.”

Tom Listowski, Partner, Head of Industrial and Warehouse, Central and Eastern Europe, Cresa, says: “Western Poland is a dynamically growing region that attracts many investors from Poland and abroad thanks to its advanced road network, vicinity to Germany and Western Europe and its large pool of high-skilled labour. We are extremely happy to have supported TJX Europe on their development of this strategic regional distribution centre in Poland.”

Tailoring to measure. The BTS project for TJX Europe is another investment implemented by Panattoni for the apparel sector. Like a tailor, the developer tailors a facility to the client’s needs – like a clothing constructor, Panattoni thoroughly analyses the needs, constructs and¬ finally creates a custom design. These individual solutions are determined by a complex supply chain system with a constant flows of goods for new models or by an increasingly complex supply management process. Most of these services are no longer performed in stores but in distribution centres, and Panattoni, as an experienced developer, supports its clients in implementing such investments.

TJX Europe is a company that operates retail brands TK Maxx and Homesense in Europe. It is a part of The TJX Companies, Inc., the leading off-price apparel and home fashions retailer in the U.S. and worldwide. Both TK Maxx and Homesense operate an exciting off-price concept which offers big names and designer labels, top brands, up-and-coming labels and one-off gems, always up to 60% less than the recommended retail price (RRP). TK Maxx has 602 stores in six countries across Europe: the UK, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Austria and the Netherlands and is online at www.tkmaxx.com. Homesense has 78 stores across the UK and Ireland. ¹

¹TJX Companies, Inc. Q4 FY20 results

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Panattoni on-site with 1 million sq ft development at Panattoni Park Northampton

panattoelement on March 1, 2021

Panattoni on-site with 1 million sq ft development at Panattoni Park Northampton

Panattoni, the largest industrial developer in Europe, is set to start work on the second phase of its 1.6 million sq ft industrial park in Northampton.

Panattoni Park Northampton is already the home to three former Panattoni buildings and will see further units delivered at 250,000 sq ft, 380,000 sq ft and 430,000 sq ft, totalling over another 1 million sq ft at the park.

The second phase of development at the Park comes after Panattoni successfully speculatively developed and let 625,000 sq ft of space to Eddie Stobart Logistics.

Winvic Construction Ltd have begun construction on the three new spec units will be developed over two phases, the first being units 250,000 sq ft and 430,000 sq ft with steels emerging in the coming weeks. Finally, the 380,000 sq ft which will commence later in 2021.

Each will benefit from the same prominent location based on junction 16 of the M1 motorway, which will see tens of thousands of cars pass the occupiers’ logos each day.

All three units will be built to 15m clear internal height and benefit from 50m yards.

Northampton sits in the so-called ‘logistics golden triangle’, considered to be the UK’s most strategically important location for distribution. Panattoni Park Northampton is only 20 miles from the M6 and A14.

The completed buildings will be built to a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ and have an ‘A+’ EPC rating. Local services have been improved on site as part of the development, with the Red Lion Truck Stop parking area being expanded to accommodate more vehicles, as well as an HGV filling station being added to the existing set of pumps. The section 278 road that leads to the truck stop and main development has also been improved to give better access to the motorway. Once fully occupied, the development could support over 1000 jobs.

Oliver Bertram, Development Director at Panattoni, said: “We’re delighted to be continuing the development of 1 million sq ft in Northampton, after only recently completing the three units for Eddie Stobart. This shows that Panattoni has the confidence to deliver speculatively, knowing that the market needs more space.

“This park gives businesses an ideal base to serve key markets across the UK, with direct access to the country’s major motorways. Market interest remains high in this area and we are committed to providing the right spaces for businesses to expand their operations. The new units at Panattoni Park Northampton will do just that.”

Matthew Byrom, Managing Director at Panattoni, added: “This next phase of development in Northampton demonstrates the success of our high-level business strategy in the UK and the speed and scale at which we work. There are limited opportunities in the UK that will deliver a 1 million sq ft spec option and it’s an important build for industry as a whole and one that we anticipate will soon be let quickly.”

Danny Nelson, Director of Winvic Construction Ltd said: “Panattoni Park in Northampton is a scheme that is dear to us. Not only is it close to our head office, we’ve also been on site since 2018, shaping the space with civils and infrastructure works and we then successfully constructed three units simultaneously for Phase 1.

“We’re pleased that Panattoni has selected us to deliver more industrial warehouses and that they know Phase 2 is in a safe pair of hands. The challenge is now ours to surpass their expectations once again.”

For more details on Panattoni Park Northampton please click this link.

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