The first speculative warehouse at Panattoni Park has reached practical completion, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing redevelopment of the former Honda site.
Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, was given a behind-the-scenes tour of the newly finished unit on Friday (27 February). Developer Panattoni confirmed it is aiming to announce its first tenant during the first half of this year.
The completed building offers 545,000 sq ft of employment space and is now ready for occupation. A second unit, totalling 915,000 sq ft, is due to complete at the end of April and is set to become the largest speculative warehouse ever built in the UK.
Major investment
James Watson, Panattoni’s Head of Development for Southern England and London, said the past year had been one of sustained progress.
He said around £300m of an anticipated £915m total investment has already been committed, enabling the delivery of two large-scale logistics and manufacturing facilities designed for modern industrial use.
In total, just under 1.5 million sq ft of space has been brought forward so far. For comparison, the former Honda car plant extended to around 2 million sq ft, meaning roughly three quarters of the previous footprint has now been redeveloped on a speculative basis.
The space is expected to attract a mix of advanced manufacturing, logistics and assembly operations.
Mr Watson also credited the Council’s planning and inward investment teams for helping maintain momentum, describing their approach as proactive and solutions-focused.
Jobs and future plans
Once fully developed, Panattoni Park could support around 7,000 on-site jobs, with a further 11,000 roles generated across the wider supply chain.
Looking ahead, Panattoni has outlined plans for a further 3.5 million sq ft of development at the site over the next two to three years.
Cllr Robbins, who last visited the scheme 12 months ago when groundworks were under way, said he was struck by the pace of change.
“Panattoni Park is set to play a crucial role in strengthening Swindon’s position as a leading economic hub in the years ahead,” he said.
“I have always been clear that we must be ambitious for this site and do everything we can to attract highly skilled, advanced manufacturing roles.
“Seeing the first completed unit was a real milestone moment, and the progress achieved in just 12 months has been remarkable.
“I look forward to the announcement of the first of what I hope will be many tenants in the near future.”
