Thursday, 6 August 2026
Panattoni has submitted a hybrid planning application for Panattoni Park Maidstone, a proposed industrial and logistics development that would deliver more than 1 million sq ft of commercial space on a former manufacturing site in Kent.
The plans cover a 70-acre brownfield site at Lenham, located close to the A20 and M20 motorways, providing access to London, the M25 and the Channel ports. The proposed scheme would provide approximately 1.04 million sq ft of industrial and logistics accommodation, with the first phase comprising two speculative units of 100,000 sq ft and 150,000 sq ft. The second phase is seeking outline consent and would allow occupiers to develop built-to-suit facilities designed to meet specific operational requirements.
The application comes at a time when the South East industrial market continues to experience limited availability of modern warehouse space, particularly for larger units. Developers have increasingly focused on regenerating brownfield sites, reflecting planning policy objectives while responding to sustained occupier demand for well-connected logistics locations.
Panattoni said the proposals followed an extensive public consultation programme held earlier this year. More than 150 people attended a public exhibition in Lenham, with consultation results indicating that almost 85% of respondents supported the redevelopment of the site for employment use, while 98.5% favoured the redevelopment of brownfield land rather than greenfield sites.
The proposed development has been designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent certification and EPC A+ energy performance ratings. In addition to new industrial and logistics buildings, the scheme includes around 5 kilometres of new and upgraded roads, cycleways and pedestrian routes, together with landscaping and improved public access across the site.
The project follows Panattoni’s successful redevelopment of Panattoni Park Aylesford, another former industrial site in Kent that is now fully occupied. According to the developer, that scheme contributes an estimated £180 million annually to the local economy through business activity and employment.
If planning permission is granted, Panattoni Park Maidstone would add significant new industrial capacity to a region where development opportunities remain limited and demand for modern warehouse and manufacturing facilities continues to outpace supply. The combination of speculative units and bespoke development plots is intended to accommodate a broad range of occupiers across the logistics, manufacturing and distribution sectors.
Commercial agents Colliers, CBRE and Vail Williams have been appointed to market the development.
