Honda has today confirmed that it has sold its Swindon vehicle production facility in Swindon.
The car maker is due to cease manufacturing of the Civic hatchback at the plant in July and on Friday has confirmed the factory has been purchased by logistics firm Panattoni.
The company, which is among Europe’s largest developer of new-build industrial and logistics facilities, says it will invest more than £700million into the site.
Honda Swindon sold: The UK’s fifth biggest car maker has confirmed it has sold its Wiltshire factory, with production due to end in the summer
Panattoni, which was first established in the US in 1986, has previously constructed and developed large-scale sites for businesses including Amazon and Sainsbury’s.
It will take control of the site from spring 2022, giving Honda enough time to wind down production of cars and clear the facility.
Assembly of the Civic is due to end in July, though the site will then have to undergo a full decommissioning schedule – leaving the site ‘in a responsible way, with a sustainable legacy for Swindon’ – that will take months before the keys are handed over to the new owner.
Panettoni says it will begin its redevelopment plans as soon as it takes control of the Swindon site.
Jason Smith, director at Honda of the UK Manufacturing, said: ‘We are pleased to have identified a capable new owner of the site. From our engagement with Panattoni and initial discussions with Swindon Borough Council, we are confident that the new owner can bring the development forward in a commercially timely fashion and generate exciting prospects for Swindon and the wider community.’
Japanese car maker Honda announced two years ago the closure of its Swindon car plant, putting 3,500 jobs at risk
Honda announced in 2019 that the Swindon facility will be closed once the existing Civic comes to the end of its production cycle. That date is July 2021, though the car maker will spend months decommissioning the factory before handing over the keys
Honda confirmed on Friday it had sold the site to logistics firm Panattoni, which has promised a £700million investment in the location once they move in
James Watson, development director at the new owners, added: ‘Panattoni is committing to invest over £700 million into the site to attract new employers and provide for existing businesses looking to expand in Swindon.
‘We will be working very closely with Honda and Swindon Borough Council, along with the community and its representatives to regenerate the site.’
Honda has owned the 370-acre Swindon site since 1985.
Having previously been an airfield, the site was converted to a car production facility and was operational within 12 months.
It was originally used to carry out pre-delivery inspections on engines before powerplant production started in 1989.
Three years later in 1992 it began manufacturing of vehicles, with the Honda Accord family saloon being the first UK-made model. Since then, Honda Swindon has produced Jazz supermini, CR-V SUV, Civic family car and Civic Type R hot hatch.
In 2015, Honda Swindon celebrated production of its three millionth car. However, in 2019, it announced it would end production of the Civic at the end of the current model’s cycle (2021) and move operations back to Japan.
Honda has owned the 370-acre Swindon site since 1985. Having previously been an airfield, the site was converted to a car production facility and was operational within 12 months
Vehicle manufacturing has taken place at the factory since 1992, with models including the Accord family saloon, Jazz supermini, CR-V SUV, Civic family car and Civic Type R hot hatch (pictured) assembled at the plant
The Honda plant in Swindon, Wiltshire is pictured in a file photo from 1998
Honda was the UK’s fifth biggest car maker in 2020, producing a total of 69,366 Civics.
That output figure was severely restricted by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the Swindon plant building 108,876 examples in 2019.
Honda of the UK manufacturing employed some 3,500 staff before the closure was announced two years ago.
Susie Kemp, chief executive of Swindon Borough Council, said: ‘The new opportunities outlined by Panattoni will be a major step in Swindon’s rejuvenation following Honda’s exit.
‘Their investment offers a significant boost to the local economy and we are excited by the prospect of this redevelopment creating thousands of jobs for Swindon and the surrounding area.
‘We already have a strong working relationship with Panattoni following their recent development of the adjacent site, Symmetry Park, and look forward to working with them over the next year. We understand that Honda’s key aim was to identify a responsible new owner and I believe today’s announcement demonstrates that.’
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