ProLogis, a leading global provider of distribution facilities and services, today announced that in partnership with Dartford Borough Council, it has started development of a 264-acre, mixed-use project at North Dartford, east of central London. The project, to be known as "The Bridge," will ultimately comprise 1.5 million square feet of commercial space, including offices, distribution facilities and a 330,000-square-foot technology and science park, in addition to 1,500 homes, a local retail center and a school.

The Bridge continues ProLogis' tradition of designing and managing mixed- use projects in the U.K. The first of these projects began in 1999 with the redevelopment of the former mining site known as Keresley Colliery in Coventry, West Midlands, which resulted in the creation of ProLogis Park Coventry, a 128-acre development park. Additionally, from 2001-2003, ProLogis managed the Dunlop Tyres brownfield redevelopment, a 56-acre, mixed-used project located in Birmingham in the West Midlands.

ProLogis' role in The Bridge partnership will be to develop the infrastructure for the project as well as the industrial facilities and selected build-to-suits. ProLogis has already pre-signed a build-to-suit agreement with a major British PLC for a 670,000-square-foot industrial development. Additionally, ProLogis has presold 48 acres of land on the site to the U.K.'s largest house builder, George Wimpey PLC to construct the homes, retail center and school.

Alan Curtis, managing director of ProLogis Developments Ltd., said, "The Bridge project demonstrates our fundamental commitment to provide the best in quality and sustainability in all that we develop. This project, the first of its kind to be delivered in the Thames Gateway, will quickly become the benchmark of quality for these types of projects."

Dartford is one of the key boroughs within the U.K. government's Thames Gateway project, which has been identified as a national priority for regeneration and growth. The Dartford site is located south of the Thames River and adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, at Junction 1A of the M25 London Orbital Motorway. Work on the project's infrastructure will start in the third quarter of this year and is expected to take approximately two years to complete.

David Huggett, managing director, George Wimpey, South London, said, "The Bridge will offer what will sound like a dream for many: a new community with quality housing in a first-class landscaped environment just outside London. Add to that excellent public transportation, local employment, a new school, a retail center, a nature reserve and a wildlife park, and it is clear that the dream will become a reality at The Bridge."

The residential and commercial developments of The Bridge will be set in an ecologically-friendly environment featuring the existing mature trees and an extensive wildlife and recreational park. Lakes and other natural open space will cover approximately one-third of the site. An additional community feature will be the provision of a new Fastrack bus service to link The Bridge to other public transportation at Dartford, Greenhithe and Gravesend stations, as well as to Bluewater Park. The Fastrack facility will require the development partnership to construct a new bridge over the M25.

Kenneth Leadbeater, Leader of Dartford Borough Council, said, "The Council's 21st century vision for the comprehensive rebirth of North Dartford combined with a development of the highest quality is about to be realised at The Bridge. This innovative project combines new thinking about design, community and sustainability with effective use of public transport and a wide mix of housing and employment types. I am delighted that Dartford Borough Council is in the vanguard of such leading-edge development."

Jones Lang LaSalle and Holley Blake are advising Dartford Borough Council and ProLogis Developments, Ltd.

About ProLogis

ProLogis is a leading provider of distribution facilities and services with 321 million square feet (30 million square meters) in 2,079 distribution facilities owned, managed and under development in 76 markets in North America, Europe and Asia. ProLogis continues to expand the industry's first and largest global network of distribution facilities with the objective of building shareholder value. The company expects to achieve this through the ProLogis Operating System(R) and its commitment to be 'The Global Distribution Solution' for its customers, providing exceptional facilities and services to meet their expansion and reconfiguration needs.