The Proposals
Proposed Development
Prologis Park Waltham Abbey is well-located, just off Junction 26 of the M25 to the south of Waltham Abbey. The site offers excellent connectivity to Central London and the wider UK motorway network, making it ideally positioned for urban supply chains.
The scheme will deliver sustainable local economic growth, inward investment and bring significant job opportunities to residents of Epping Forest. The proposals will look to address the critical need for well-connected buildings and infrastructure that drives investment, supports local communities and helps Epping Forest District Council create a favourable environment for growth.
Like all Prologis developments, Prologis Park Waltham Abbey will use an innovative approach to placemaking through a landscape-first approach, delivering a multitude of benefits including:
Eight units ranging from 24,000 sq. ft to just over 102,000 sq. ft
More than £200 million investment by Prologis into the local area
Over 500 FTE jobs with continued investment into the area looking to increase new jobs
Employment skills and training initiatives
Further investment in the area to deliver an extra £3m in business rates
People-focused environment that will includes attractive shared spaces, emphasising wellbeing experiences
Enhancement of green infrastructure to deliver a biodiverse setting
Prioritisation of active travel and electric vehicle infrastructure, including cycle improvements surrounding the site
Illustrative Site Layout Plan
Illustrative View from new PRoW link
Illustrative Site Entrance view from West
Illustrative View from new PRoW link
Site Aerial View
Driving Local Jobs
Logistics is a vital part of the UK economy, supporting over 2 million jobs and playing a critical role in keeping businesses and communities connected. As one of the country’s fastest-growing sectors, there is an increasing demand for modern and well-located employment space.
Prologis Park Waltham Abbey will deliver over 500 full time equivalent new jobs, creating a wide range of opportunities for local people and supporting long-term economic growth.
Today’s logistics roles are diverse, skilled and evolving – it is a sector offering varied and rewarding careers and benefits including:
Strong levels of full-time employment (over 90% of roles)
Competitive salaries, often above national averages
Clear opportunities for progression, regardless of academic background (63% of logistics managers not holding a university degree)
High level of job satisfaction, with 66% of sector employees “loving” their career choice
A wide mix of careers - from operations and driving to management, engineering and technology
The sector also has a strong local dimension. Many workers live close to their place of employment, with:
69% of employees travelling 10 miles or less to work and 43% completing their commute in under 20 minutes
According to data form the Business Register and Employment Survey (2024) there are 57,500 jobs within Epping Forest. This compares to a working age population of 82,000 (Annual Population Survey, 2024). There are high levels of commuting of residents in Epping Forest to work. The 2011 Census provides data on travel to work[1]. At the time of the 2011 Census there were 45,500 jobs within Epping Forest compared to 60,000 residents in work. Over half of residents (57%) commuted out of the borough to work. This was a higher rate compared to the surrounding districts of Uttlesford (44%), Chelmsford (40%) and Brentwood (55%).
By providing more local employment opportunities, the scheme would reduce the need to commute outside the area, helping to retain local skills and support improved work–life balance.
As one of the area’s key strategic employment sites, the development will play an important role in meeting future demand by supporting businesses, attracting investment and ensuring local people can access a wider range of opportunities on their doorstep.
[1] Whilst more recent Census data is available, the 2021 Census was undertaken during the Covid‑19 pandemic when commuting patterns were significantly disrupted. As a result, 2011 Census travel‑to‑work data is considered the most appropriate and robust source for assessing baseline out‑commuting patterns.
Planning History
Prologis is bringing forward new proposals for Prologis Park Waltham Abbey, which respond positively to the site’s planning history and Local Plan allocated status. Careful consideration has been given to the previous feedback from the community and stakeholders in formulating the plans for the site.
Earlier proposals for the site’s development were driven by a national retail occupier to deliver a single warehouse building across multiple floors. The proposals were subject to a full planning application and subsequent planning appeal, which was dismissed in 2022. The appeal process raised important local considerations centred on scale, landscape integration and impact on Epping Forest. Those issues have helped shape a fresh approach to the site, pursued by a new landowner.
Since the appeal, the site has been formally allocated for employment use in Epping Forest District Council’s Local Plan which was adopted in March 2023. The site allocation – referred to as WAL.E8 Land north of A121 – recognises the site as an appropriate location for flexible employment uses with an indicative developable area of 10 hectares. In allocating the site, Epping Forest District Council is relying on it to meet nearly half of the District’s employment floorspace needs over the plan period. The allocation reflects its strategic connectivity and suitability for high-quality industrial and logistics uses.
Located outside of the Green Belt, the site offers an opportunity to deliver sustainable employment development in a well-connected location, adjacent to existing major distribution and employment uses. The development of the site will generate significant employment opportunities, attract inward investment and provide long-term economic benefits for Waltham Abbey and the wider district.
In bringing forward a new application for the site, the proposals have been carefully developed through ongoing and extensive pre-application discussions with the local planning authority and statutory consultees. This has resulted in a well-considered, functional and highly sustainable scheme - one that responds to previous concerns while delivering the economic and community benefits envisaged through the Local Plan allocation.
Key improvements include:
The evolution and amendments of the scheme include some key matters listed below:
A significant reduction in building height by approximately 10 metres
Increased set back from the M25 boundary
Redistribution of overall bulk scale and mass across the site with eight warehouse units providing a range of building sizes to cater for varying market demand
Careful integration with the existing pedestrian and cycle routes to the north west including an attractive and direct connection that will encourage active travel modes
Active frontages throughout the site and to Dowding Way
