Panattoni Park Aylesford marks major milestone after welcoming UK’s first logistics park-based HGV EV-charging station

Panattoni Park Aylesford in Kent is now fully let after planning permission was granted for the final plot to become an electric Heavy Goods Vehicles (eHGV) EV-charging station, making it the UK’s first logistics park to offer such a facility.

It means that in less than four years, Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer, has totally redeveloped and fully let the once vacant 90-acre site to create a logistics and distribution park for leading companies employing a total of 4,000 people.

The eHGV EV-charging station is being developed by Milence, an Amsterdam-based joint venture between Daimler Truck, the TRATON GROUP and Volvo Group, which opened its first UK public charging hub in March at the Port of Immingham in Humberside. When constructed, the Aylesford charging facility will offer up to eight eHGV charging bays to ensure the site can serve the eHGV operators and achieve the highest environmental standard.

Tony Watkins, Head of Development, South East & London at Panattoni, said: “Being able to offer EV charging for eHGVs fits perfectly with our ethos to create sustainable industrial development in well-connected locations. It means Aylesford will be the benchmark for high-performance, environmentally responsible logistics infrastructure.

“Like Panattoni, Milence operates in key countries across Europe, including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Poland, and I’m sure there will be further opportunities to work together as the logistics industry adopts eHGVs.”

When Milence is operational it will join Amazon, DHL, Evri, Fowler Welch (part of the Culina Group) and Tesco, which are already on site. It is the largest single employment site in Tonbridge and Malling and contributes an estimated £180m to the local economy.

Panattoni invested £250m to bring the project to fruition, and Tony Watkins added: “What has been achieved at Aylesford is nothing short of miraculous. It is testament to everyone who has worked on the scheme.

“We have transformed the site since purchasing it in August 2021, repurposing tonnes of reinforced concrete, recycling tonnes of metal and delivering more than a million ft sq of high-quality, environmentally high-performing buildings for our world-class tenants, as well as a £7m link road to support the local transport network.”

During the construction phase, 127,000m³ of reinforced concrete from the original development were crushed and used as the base for new buildings and road infrastructure, saving 157,198kg of CO₂ by removing HGV movements from the road network.

All the Grade-A industrial units on site have achieved the environmental BREAAM ‘Excellent’ certification and feature an array of state-of-the-art infrastructure enhancements, including renewable power installations capable of generating a combined 7MVA of renewable energy via the solar PV installed on the roofs and car park canopies. Panattoni has also invested in an innovative car share scheme as a flexible, eco-friendly transport option for site users, and EV bike charging stations. Additionally, all the car parking spaces will be able to have EV chargers fitted when required.

As a result, Panattoni Park Aylesford is setting the standard for sustainable industrial developments, and the final approved plot will make it the first logistics park to offer eHGV charging capabilities.

Tony Watkins concluded: “These infrastructure enhancements, including the first-ever UK eHGV charging station, are a game-changer for the logistics industry. By providing cutting-edge sustainable solutions, we are pushing the boundaries of what a modern logistics park can offer. Our commitment to sustainability and the environment is reflected in every aspect of this development, from renewable energy to the provision of innovative transport options.

“The strong demand highlighted by the site’s full occupation demonstrates our commitment to best-in-class sustainable logistics.”