A major developer is set to open its third site in the county after a £150 million investment.

Logistics real estate firm Panattoni has announced it has bought a 644,549 sq ft site in Kemsley, near Sittingbourne, to expand its Kent portfolio.

Head of development for the South East and London at Panattoni, Tony Watkins, said: “This third Kent acquisition exemplifies our dedication to a forward-thinking sustainable development plan in locations that offer direct access to the London market, facilitating robust rental growth.

“Panattoni will bring forward the development in the coming months, ready for practical completion next year, aiming to plug the gap in the lack of large logistics and distribution facilities.

“We will continue to selectively purchase key developments that offer value-added opportunities within core markets in London and the South East, where we can drive rental growth.”

The scheme, known as Panattoni Park Sittingbourne, has been earmarked for a state-of-the-art, net zero carbon development and will have electric vehicle charging, cycle paths, and roof lights.

It is planning to build a sustainable project that will feature electric power and solar panels.

The 26.1-acre site, four miles from Junction 5 of the M2, has planning permission for two units, spanning 439,228 sq ft and 205,320 sq ft.

Following the news, ward councillor Derek Carnell (Ind) said: "The Panattoni Park would be good for more jobs in the area.

“But can the local traffic cope with the development? Especially with what is going on with all the roadworks at the moment."

Construction to build a second bridge over the A249 at Grovehurst Road, in Kemsley, has led to multiple road closures in the area and are set to last until next year while work is completed.

It has been branded as "beyond a joke" as residents face months and months of traffic misery to allow the multi-million pound project to be completed.

Panattoni is the largest logistics developer in the UK and Europe.

The new site in Sittingbourne comes after the company opened a 1.6 million sq ft Panattoni Park in Aylesford last year.

It also has an eight-acre site in Wrotham, near Sevenoaks.