Plans for the redevelopment of the former Marley Works site on the A20 between Lenham and Harrietsham will shortly be the subject of a public exhibition.
The proposals will be unveiled by its new owners, Panattoni – Europe’s largest privately owned industrial logistics and distribution property developer – at the Dog & Bear Hotel, Lenham on Friday 27 February between 2pm and 7pm.
The 70-acre site currently has more than 1,000,000ft2 of buildings and commercial space, and is identified as a key employment location within the Borough of Maidstone.
Tony Watkins, head of development South East & London at Panattoni, said: “Since buying the site last year, we have been working on plans for how we can bring this once proud industrial site back into use.
“It has many things in common with our successful site at Aylesford, which also had a century of industrial heritage before its gates were closed and hundreds of people lost their jobs. The redevelopment of Marley Works offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Maidstone, and Kent as a whole.”
The industrial site, which was previously owned by Belgium-based Aliaxis, was left vacant after the manufacture of Marley plumbing and drainage materials stopped there, with the loss of more than 220 jobs.
Tony added: “Historically, the former Aliaxis site has been one of the most important primary industrial sites in the borough. We hope that our plans to bring back jobs – with the construction of modern sustainable carbon-neutral buildings – will be well received.
“Next to the boundary of Marley Works sits a seven-acre site of overgrown shrub and woodland on the site of a former chicken farm, and we are keen to start a conversation with the local community as to how this could be put to better use for residents and the environment.”
Synonymous with Marley Tiles since its founder Owen Aisher started the firm in the 1920s, the site went on to become one of the area’s largest employers. After more than 100 years of industrial use, the majority of the buildings are now at the end of their life. The regeneration of this brownfield site will also require the removal and remediation of all onsite contamination associated with the historic uses.
The Lenham acquisition adds to Panattoni’s current portfolio across Kent, including sites in Aylesford, Sittingbourne and Wrotham, and sees its investment exceed £635m in delivering high-quality logistics, distribution and warehousing space in the county.
Panattoni already has a relationship with the Marley name, after the company relocated from its longstanding 8-acre site at Wrotham, near Sevenoaks, two years ago to a new purpose-built facility at Panattoni Park Aylesford.
Subsequently purchased by Panattoni, the Wrotham site is currently the subject of a planning application to create new premises for up to six businesses of varying sizes split across two buildings.
