Last year, 1,150,000 square metres of logistics space was added in the Netherlands. That is a doubling compared to 2015. The new construction is mainly accounted for by logistics service providers, according to research by DO Research.
Just over half of the new-build properties completed were taken into use by logistics service providers. In 2015, this share stood at ‘just’ 35 per cent. Retailers occupied almost a quarter of the newly built property. 6 per cent (70,000 square metres) of the new developments remain vacant.
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The Venlo/Venray region saw the most additions in 2016 (205,000 square metres), followed by West Brabant (160,000 square metres) and South Limburg (145,000 square metres).
The average floor area of new distribution centres stood at 23,000 square metres in 2016. In previous years, the average had been 15,500 square metres. So-called XXL distribution centres were particularly in demand in 2016. Eight distribution centres with a floor area of 40,000 square metres or more were completed. By the end of 2017, a further seven XXL distribution centres were still under construction.
Do Research expects a lot of new logistics real estate to be realised in 2017 as well. The research bureau estimates that 1.5 million square metres of new construction will be completed, concentrated in Limburg, North Brabant and the Amsterdam region. Even then, logistics service providers and retail will occupy a large share of distribution space.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
