Benefits

The proposals for Marley Works offer opportunities for the area – the community, the economy and the environment.

Industrial site with tall metal silos on the right and a paved road leading towards a building and more silos under a cloudy sky.

Access

Retaining and reinforcing the existing access into the site and creating an improved frontage

Community

Seek approval to provide a diversion of the PROW which will provide an improved and enhanced experience for the community

Landscaping

Retention of existing landscape features on the site’s boundaries and opportunities to provide new areas of landscaping

Biodiversity

Create a sustainable and robust landscape strategy to achieve a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gain

Ecological

Protecting residential amenity through sympathetic design and management

Sensitive to the local community

An initial examination of the site means Panattoni understands the constraints and opportunities. Further technical and environmental studies are being undertaken to inform the design evolution of the proposed scheme.

Panattoni recognises that:

The red line is the current route of the PROW, the yellow line is its possible new route, subject to permission.
Aerial satellite view of an industrial complex surrounded by fields and trees, with marked pathways and roads labeled such as Downs Lane and A20.

The site is bounded to the north, by the Kent Downs National Landscape

A Listed building is located to the north

A Public Right of Way (PROW) currently runs through the site

Residential properties are located adjacent to the site’s boundaries

Enhancing the environment

To the west of the main site sit seven acres of land, part of which used to be a chicken farm. Although outside the redline of the planning application, it is owned by Panattoni, and the company is eager to engage with community groups to decide how best to use it.

Aerial view of a lush green forest area adjacent to farmland and industrial buildings under a partly cloudy sky.
Dense forest area with a mix of green and brown foliage, tree trunks, and intertwined branches.
Sunlit clearing in a dense green forest framed by dark leafy branches.
Aerial view of industrial buildings adjacent to a dense green forested area and fields.

Panattoni is developing a green infrastructure strategy with specialist ecologists to help integrate the site within its surroundings and reinforce existing trees to the boundaries.

Across the development, trees and planting will soften building façades and operational areas to help create new habitats to exceed the Government’s mandatory 10% Biodiversity Net Gain.

As part of these proposals, retaining and redirecting the Public Right of Way (PROW) which currently crosses the centre of the site will enhance the users’ experience through the retained and improved green infrastructure that will be situated to the west.

We have already begun conversations with the Parish Councils of Lenham and Harrietsham, as well as other community groups, and these will help to inform our proposals.

New long-term employment

The proposal will deliver new employment and skills opportunities and contribute to economic growth through sustainable development.
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At its peak, the Marley Works employed around 2,000 local people. When Aliaxis unfortunately announced the closure of its Lenham operation, this had dropped to a total of 220 people being employed on site.

Industrial yard with stacks of coiled pipes, a parked white truck, trees, and blue sky with wispy clouds.
Aerial view of an industrial complex with multiple warehouses, parked trucks, and storage areas surrounded by green fields under a partly cloudy sky.
Aerial view of an industrial warehouse complex with multiple buildings, loading docks, parked blue trucks, and organized stacks of materials on a concrete yard surrounded by green fields and trees.
Aerial view of an industrial warehouse complex with trucks, stacks of materials, and surrounding greenery under a cloudy sky.

Meeting the needs of industry

The Panattoni proposals have the potential to return the employment levels back to those recorded in the site’s heyday.

The proposed redevelopment of Marley Works would provide a range of units suitable for regional and national occupiers seeking modern carbon neutral business space fit for their future needs. Potential uses could include:

Light Industrial

Manufacturing and Engineering

Food Production

Logistics and Distribution

Sustainable construction and development

Panattoni provides high quality, low carbon buildings tailored to the needs of the individual occupier.

Low carbon development is now at the heart of good building practice. Not just that – it’s at the heart of long term national and European policy to arrest and reverse the effects of excessive energy consumption and climate change. We incorporate:

Solar PV on roofs

Air-source heat pumps

High levels of insulation

Rainwater harvesting

Energy efficient lighting

Active utility resources monitoring

Efficient systems built into every structure

20% electric vehicle charging

Exterior view of a modern industrial building with white and dark gray corrugated metal siding and tall vertical windows under a clear blue sky.

Better by design

As part of Panattoni’s design process, careful consideration will be given to:

Providing high-quality design and appearance for the new buildings to enhance the existing character of the site

Retaining and reinforcing the existing access via Dickley Lane

Providing car, HGV and cycle parking in line with KCC Parking Standards

Retention of existing landscape features and provision of new landscaping to create a sustainable and robust strategy that also enhances biodiversity

Designing with the topography of the site

The mass, form and overall height of the buildings to minimise visual impact and ensure they meet the needs for modern occupiers

Soft landscaping will be provided to the boundaries of car parking areas to enhance the visual appearance, as well as blend the site into its context

Providing cycle storage and electric cycle charging areas. Shower/changing facilities are included to support non-car travel

Consistent with the council’s policies

Panattoni’s vision for Marley Works supports Maidstone Borough Council’s objective to deliver sustainable economic growth.

The proposals are also consistent with the council’s strategic development goals to retain, intensify and regenerate industrial estates identified as Economic Development Areas within the Local Plan.

The vision will be achieved through the delivery of a best-in-class employment location and business community, and:

Policy 1

Development of high quality, accessible and sustainable buildings that meet the needs of local to national occupiers, alongside supporting facilities and infrastructure

Map highlighting the boundary of Maidstone in Kent, England, near the Isle of Sheppey and Kent Downs National Landscape.

Policy 2: Masterplanned landscape

A comprehensively masterplanned landscape setting that enhances biodiversity and is accessible to employees, visitors and the local community, to the benefit of their collective health and wellbeing

Policy 3: Safe access

Providing safe and convenient vehicular, pedestrian and cycle access, both within the site and to connections beyond, delivering sustainable travel options and strategic connectivity

Policy 4: Sense of place

Establishing a sense of place and identity through maintaining a strong landscape concept that – alongside a common architectural language – delivers both views through the site and legible wayfinding around it

Policy 5: Sustainably led

Designing in sustainability and adaptability to deliver a lasting legacy for Kent