The investment by Panattoni at Wrotham will bring a number of benefits.
Currently, the site is leased on a short-term basis by a vehicle recovery company.
The proposals would create a new home for up to six businesses, with the total space offering the prospect of between 140 and 265 full-time jobs – depending on the mix of industrial or warehousing/distribution – in a wide range of roles and activities, including office, warehousing, transport and deliveries.
In recent years, Marley Tiles employed only around eight people on the site. The new proposals would result in a significant increase from the previous level of employment, creating a further boost for the local Tonbridge and Malling Borough economy.
Further employment opportunities will be generated through the construction phase, as well as associated economic investment. 233 direct jobs and 93 indirect jobs would be generated during the construction phase.
Making better use of the site will also alleviate pressures to find additional land for employment uses elsewhere in the borough or surrounding areas.
The current outdated and energy inefficient buildings occupying the site will be replaced by new building that have been designed to high environmental and quality standards. They will be built to a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and provide a high-quality development that is adaptable and resilient to the future climate.
A new footpath on the access road would link to the existing footpath on the A20 and run through the development making it easier and safer for people to walk to work. The site is also designed to be fully accessible – as are the buildings – for less able people, with gentle gradients, wheelchair-friendly doors and tactile paving and dropped curbs at road junctions.
To support the move towards a circular economy, where possible, items would be made from recycled materials – such as steelwork, plastic drainpipes, office partitions and road surfaces. The steel-framed buildings, which will be built with materials with low embodied carbon impact, have been designed to be largely recyclable when they come to the end of their life.
The development would deliver a minimum 10% net gain to biodiversity through a mixture of on and off-site enhancements.
On site, existing areas of ecological value would be retained wherever possible and protected from accidental damage during construction by fencing.
There would be steps taken throughout the site to enhance biodiversity and would an area with insect hotels, as well as bird boxes to encourage nesting.
The retained boundary hedgerows and trees to the site’s boundaries will be complimented and enhanced through the planting of additional trees and shrubs. Preference will be given to indigenous species, in particular those that are seed and fruit bearing. Not only do these provide a foraging resource to local bird populations but, typically, they tend to support a greater diversity and number of invertebrate species for birds to feed on.
There will be flower beds and trees planted throughout the site, both enhancing its appearance and its ecological value.
To ensure the proposals deliver a 10% net gain to biodiversity overall, funding will also be provided to boost local biodiversity off-site. Through its development at Panattoni Park Aylesford, Panattoni has an existing relationship with Kent Wildlife Trust and has been working with the charity on a range of local ecological projects.