Category: Charity Bike Ride

Oliver Winchcombe, Head of UK Portfolio Management and ESG, talks about the importance of Earth Day. Oliver comments “Every year, Earth Day gives us a moment to pause and reflect on the state of our planet, and the responsibility we all share in protecting it. For those of us in the logistics sector, it is a reminder that while our work keeps economies growing, it also carries an environmental cost we cannot ignore.

At Panattoni, we take that responsibility seriously. We are making big strides towards building a more sustainable logistics future and believe in the importance of being open about the progress we have made, and the work still ahead.

In 2023 alone, freight transportation, warehouses, and ports made up 11% of global carbon emissions. That is a huge number that comes with a huge opportunity. At Panattoni, we are determined to lead the charge in turning that around.

We’ve committed to ensuring that all of our buildings are net zero embodied carbon in construction.

Our Target Net Zero framework ensures we’re reducing carbon emissions at every level of warehouse construction and operation. Our buildings are constructed to the highest BREEAM and EPC standards, ensuring that we are making every effort to cut emissions everywhere we can.

We use 20-55% GGBS cement replacement, 90% recycled steel, and low-carbon cladding to reduce emissions and energy use when the site was up and running. We also prioritise materials with environmental product declarations to ensure sustainability is always at the forefront of our decision-making process.

Panattoni Park Aylesford is a great example of what our sustainable practices look like in action. We recycled 125,000 cubic metres of concrete during demolition, saving 150,000 kilograms of CO2 and cutting 110,000 lorry miles. Additionally, the massing and external envelope was designed to reduce the visual appearance of the building from Kent Downs National Landscape (AONB). Over 20 acres of land have been restored for nature conservation, and we’ve invested £400,000 into Thornton Wood’s 30-year recovery plan. At Panattoni, we believe in going beyond reducing harm with our projects and developing them to actively help the planet heal.

We don’t just look at how we build, but where. Panattoni is proud to be breathing new life into brownfield sites, giving disused land a second chance. In Swindon, we have broken ground on one of the UK’s largest brownfield sites with a £900 million investment, which has been endorsed by PM Keir Starmer.

Our efforts have yielded some impressive results. Our flagship sustainable warehouse development, Panattoni Park Avonmouth, achieved a 20% and 7% tCo2e reduction from the baseline in each of the two units, and resulted in the purchase of over 53,000 carbon offset credits from Gold Standard. We are also delivering some of our most sustainable developments yet with Milton Keynes and Central A1[M] set to be our first BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ buildings. Also paving the way to a more sustainable future in logistics is Panattoni Park Sittingbourne, which offers a significant advantage to future tenants through its robust and sustainable energy infrastructure. The park features 1.35MVa of solar photovoltaic (PV) power integrated into its base specification, supplementing a total available power capacity of 7.85MVa (including 6.5MVa of conventional supply).

This sustainable energy provision not only supports environmental targets but also delivers meaningful cost savings. Tenants can benefit from estimated annual energy savings of approximately £343,000 pa across the park, directly attributed to the on-site solar PV system.

With success stories like these, Panattoni is well on course to meet its net zero embodied carbon target.

This Earth Day comes at a time when global logistics is the spotlight like never before. What better time, then, for the sector to look to its own practices, making a concerted effort to help build a more sustainable global economy.”

For more information, please visit www.panattoni.co.uk/esg

Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in Europe, has hired Alexandre Daoud from JLL to lead its capital raising in the Middle East.

As Head of Capital Markets Middle East, Alexandre will be responsible for sourcing capital in the Middle East for Panattoni’s growing pipeline of projects in Saudi Arabia, Europe and India. Based in Panattoni’s office in Dubai, he will report to Artur Mokrzycki, Head of Capital Markets Europe.

Alexandre has been based in Dubai for the last 12 years and brings deep insight into the region’s investor landscape and cross-border capital flows. He joins Panattoni from JLL, where he spent nearly 10 years and most recently served as Head of International Capital Coverage, Middle East and North Africa. In that role, he was responsible for cross-border real estate investment transactions between the MENA region and international markets. He holds an MBA from ESSEC Business School in France.

His appointment follows Panattoni’s strategic expansion into the Middle East, marked by the launch of its Saudi Arabia operation last year. The Saudi team is led by Daniele Sotti, Managing Director, Saudi Arabia, and Ali Chamoun, Development Director.

Artur Mokrzycki, Head of Capital Markets Europe, said: ” Alexandre brings a wealth of experience and trusted relationships across the Middle East, which are essential as we expand our footprint and capital partnerships in the region. His appointment marks a significant step in Panattoni’s strategy to connect global capital with high-quality logistics opportunities across Europe, Saudi Arabia and India”.

The Prime Minister Keir Starmer today recognised the significance of Panattoni Park Swindon, one of Europe’s largest brownfield employment sites, and the transformative impact of our £1.2 billion investment is having. The PM’s recognition further reinforces our mission as we look to deliver positive change to the national and local economy.

As the largest logistics developer in Europe, we are committed to economic growth through strategic investments in key infrastructure.

Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in the UK and Europe, is expanding its capital markets team with the appointment of Jack Franklin from PGIM Real Estate.

The appointment comes as investor appetite to deploy capital in the UK logistics market rebounds in anticipation of a more favourable interest rate environment. Panattoni is committed to enhancing its capacity to manage this trend and by strengthening the team aims to ensure that it remains a key player in driving investment and development within the UK logistics sector​.

Jack will join as a director in Panattoni’s UK Capital Markets team, where he will focus on the capitalisation and transaction management of projects throughout the UK. Based in the London office, he will work with Nick Cripps, Executive Director of European Capital Markets, and form part of Panattoni’s global capital markets network.

Nick Cripps, Executive Director of European Capital Markets, said, “Jack will be a valuable asset to the business and we’re very pleased to have him on board. We are expanding the capital markets team in response to a maturing logistics market and the compelling opportunities that we are seeing following the cyclical reset. We are looking to deepen and diversify our investor base and, with the establishment of new investment offerings, are seeking to take advantage of these opportunities as we strongly believe it to be an attractive point in the cycle to develop and invest within the sector.

“Jack will help manage existing and new investor relationships with a focused push on UK capital and he will play a key role in the structuring of capital solutions across the capital stack”.

Jack has 12 years’ experience in the real estate sector, latterly as a Vice President at PGIM Real Estate, where he focused on the origination, structuring and execution of value-add debt transactions. 

Jack Franklin, Director, UK Capital Markets, said “After six highly enjoyable years at PGIM, I am delighted to be joining Panattoni at this exciting point in the company’s growth cycle. I am looking forward to applying my transactional and structuring experience to the UK logistics sector against the backdrop of a thriving occupational and repriced investment market. There are significant opportunities for attractive development returns from smart capital deployment into the sector and I am excited to work with existing and new capital partners in unlocking these”.

Every year, we are mesmerised by the incredible atmosphere and energy at our Panattoni Awards and Gala, held this October in Poland. It was an unforgettable evening, with over 2,000 guests from 20 countries coming together to celebrate our shared achievements.

Representing the UK, Matthew Byrom awarded two honours for the evening, including UK Acquisition of the Year. Among four nominees with a combined GDV of 868 million EUR, Panattoni Park Central A1(M) emerged as the winning project, showcasing an impressive GDV of 216 million EUR. This 1.2 million sq ft speculative development is currently the largest single speculative unit under construction in the country. We were thrilled to celebrate the achievements of our agents—M1 Agency, DTRE, and Cushman & Wakefield—who are playing to pivotal role in the development. Matthew also awarded Cushman & Wakefield as Agency of the Year, recognising their commitment to deal-making with Panattoni and our longstanding, valued partnership.

Robert Dobrzycki, CEO & Co-owner at Panattoni congratulated and applauded the outstanding successes of 2024 of our global partners, teams, and friends. The night recognised our shared commitment to creating successful, impactful projects and partners.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and we hope you had a great night!

Panattoni, a leading global developer of industrial real estate, has successfully completed the Expo Real Charity Bike Ride 2024, cycling from Prague to the International Expo Real fair in Munich. This year’s ride aimed to support the Association of Parents and Friends of Blind and Visually Impaired Children in the Czech Republic, a long-standing organisation dedicated to assisting children with severe visual impairments.

Thanks to the generous contributions of participants and other donors, the bike ride raised a total of CZK 281,287 (c. €11,000), exceeding the initial target by over 100%.

A total of 33 participants, including 15 cyclists from Panattoni Czech Republic, Germany, France, Hungary, Netherlands, Spain, and Poland, took part in the event. The 3-day ride of 450 km led from Prague via Pilsen and Regensburg to Munich, where it was completed on October 6, 2024. The route was demanding, with over 3,000 meters of elevation gain, posing a significant physical and mental challenge for all participants.

The main goal of the bike ride was to support the Association of Parents and Friends of Blind and Visually Impaired Children in the Czech Republic, which is dedicated to providing essential services for children with visual impairments. Donations enable the Association to organise swimming and physiotherapy programs, as well as integration meetings for children and their families. Additionally, the Association is creating a unique library of tactile books, allowing children to access literature through touch. Financial contributions made through the Emil Foundation will help these children develop their abilities and better integrate into society.

As a leading global company, Panattoni is fully committed to its social responsibility. I’m delighted to see so many participants from around the world actively involved in projects like this. This event demonstrates that we can both individually and collectively help those in need,” says Artur Mokrzycki, Head of Capital Markets Europe, Panattoni.

In total, 64 contributions from various donors will be used to support the activities of the Association and to directly help two specific children in need. One beneficiary is little Tobík, who will receive rehabilitation and physiotherapy to support his motor development. Another part of the funds will go to Valinka, who suffers from a rare genetic disease. These funds will be used for hippotherapy and other rehabilitation care to help slow the progression of her disease.

Pavel Sovička, Managing Director of Panattoni for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, also expressed his joy at the success of this charity event: “I’m extremely proud of all my colleagues who made the challenging journey despite the autumn weather to support a good cause. Thanks to their determination, we were able to support children who truly need help. The amount raised will help the Association of Parents and Friends of Blind and Visually Impaired Children in the Czech Republic continue to provide crucial services for blind children. We were also able to support the specific cases of Tobík and Valinka, who will receive much-needed help in their fight against their serious illnesses.”

Panattoni confirms it’s long-standing commitment to the “Good Neighbour” initiative and actively contributes to community development beyond its business focus through charitable and socially responsible projects. Thanks to this bike ride and generous donations, it has been able to support underprivileged children, providing resources to improve their quality of life and giving them better opportunities for further development and full integration into society.