“The agreement we have signed with ILS covers over 165,000 sqm of space and is one of the largest industrial space lease transactions in Silesia. It also marks an important stage in the development of Panattoni Park Katowice Airport. The scale of this operation confirms the region’s significance as one of the key logistics hubs in Central and Eastern Europe. We are delighted that the Inter Cars Group has once again placed its trust in Panattoni for the implementation of a strategic investment supporting the growth of its business,” says Marek Dobrzycki, Partner at Panattoni.
The new site at Panattoni Park Katowice Airport is intended to support the further development of ILS’s logistics operations and the automation of warehouse processes. Ultimately, the tenant will occupy approximately 158,000 sqm of warehouse space and around 7,000 sqm of staff facilities and office space. Handover of the facility is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2028.
“The new investment at Panattoni Park Katowice Airport marks the next stage in the expansion of our logistics network and the implementation of the Group’s long-term development strategy. The choice of this location was determined by both the scale of the available space and its strategic position at the junction of key transport routes. This will enable us to serve customers in the region even more efficiently, whilst increasing our operational flexibility and the efficiency of our logistics processes. Equally important was the ability to design the facility in line with the specific nature of our warehousing operations and to automate a significant proportion of our logistics processes. We believe that this will enable us to meet our customers’ growing expectations even more effectively, improve the efficiency of our processes and lay solid foundations for the Group’s further development in Europe,” says Wojciech Aleksandrowicz, CEO of ILS, Member of the Management Board of Inter Cars.
“With projects of this scale, simply finding a suitable site is often one of the greatest challenges of the entire process. In this case, it was crucial to combine several key factors simultaneously – the availability of a sufficiently large plot of land, efficient transport infrastructure, access to labour, and the ability to complete the project within the required timeframe. In Upper Silesia, the number of sites meeting all these criteria was very limited, which is why the process required a very detailed market analysis and assessment of potential risks at every stage. The result was the development of a solution that meets both the client’s current operational needs and their long-term development plans,” says Ludwika Korzeniowska, Head of Industrial and Logistics Leasing, BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland.
At the new facility, ILS will carry out advanced logistics processes for the Inter Cars Group, the largest distributor of car spare parts in Central and Eastern Europe.
“Transactions of this size and complexity require a broader range of services, going beyond the leasing process itself. It is equally important to secure the contract appropriately. Thanks to the collaboration and expertise available within the BNP Paribas Group, we have jointly developed a bespoke solution tailored to the specific nature of this transaction,” says Łukasz Pobudejski, Managing Director of the Specialist Financing Division at BNP Paribas Bank.
The space will be designed in accordance with the operator’s specific requirements, ensuring the efficient handling of one of the market’s most extensive portfolios of automotive products, including, amongst others, spare parts, tyres and lubricants. The investment will include, amongst other things, reinforced concrete mezzanines approximately 5.5 m high and with a total area of nearly 23,000 sqm. In addition, the building will be prepared for the installation of a modern, four-level mezzanine storage system supplied by ILS. The area of each level of this system will exceed 36,000 sqm, which will significantly increase the facility’s storage capacity.
The facility will be heated using energy-efficient heat pumps, and a 2.5 MWp PV system will be installed on the roof of the hall. The energy generated by the system will be stored in battery systems with a capacity of 4 MWh, which will increase the use of renewable energy in the centre’s day-to-day operations. Four generator sets, each with a capacity of 1,100 kVA, will provide additional power backup.
Panattoni Park Katowice Airport is a complex with a target area of 240,000 sqm. The development is being built just 3 km from Katowice International Airport in Pyrzowice, at the junction of the A1 motorway and the S1 expressway. This location ensures convenient access to both the domestic market and European transport corridors.
The park has been designed with tenants from various sectors in mind – logistics, e-commerce, distribution and manufacturing. The flexible space allows for a variety of operational processes and enables the facilities to be tailored to companies’ individual needs. In line with Panattoni’s standards, the facility will undergo BREEAM environmental certification at the Excellent level.
