Mega shed scheme planned for Kent

Plans have been submitted for a 1.9 million sq ft industrial and logistics park in Aylesford, Kent.

The brownfield site has been vacant since 2015 when Aylesford Newsprint closed bringing a 90 year history of paper-making on the banks of the River Medway to an end. At its peak the site, employed more than 1,000 people.

The hybrid proposal is to build seven industrial buildings offering in the region of 1.9 million sq ft of new commercial floorspace. The proposal embraces environmental sustainability, including using energy efficient materials, efficient LED lighting and electric vehicle charging points.

While an outline application has been put across for the whole site with the potential to cater for units in excess of 1 million sq ft  there is also a detailed application for the erection of two units knowns as Unit 6 and Unit 7 units of 75,400 sq ft and 126,500 sq ft. Both are 12.5m clear to the underside of haunch with a maximum ridge height of 15.5m

If approved, Panattoni anticipates construction will begin in 2021, with first occupation expected spring 2022 and completion of the development by 2024.