Spanish fashion chain Inditex did not choose Limburg for the construction of a large distribution centre because the company feared there would not be enough staff available. The parent company of fashion retailers Zara and Bershka ultimately opted for an industrial estate near Lelystad Airport.
This was stated by VVD deputy Twan Beurskens to 1Limburg during the presentation of the province's Labour Market Attack Plan. According to Beurskens, the course of events surrounding Inditex shows how dire the situation is. "A good land price could not compete with that," the deputy said.
Lelystad Airport Businesspark
As a result, Limburg missed out on a 100 million euro investment. In the end,Inditex optedfor a plot at Lelystad Airport Businesspark (LAB), adjacent to the airport. A 170,000-square-metre distribution centre will rise on the plot in 2019. For the company, Lelystad is said to have the ideal combination of "high-quality physical and digital infrastructure", and the new location will bring 400 to 800 jobs to the region.
In 2019, Inditex plans to be partially operational in Lelystad, simultaneously with the opening of the nearby airport. From 2020, the building will be fully operational. The construction aims to achieve LEED Gold certification, the US sustainability certificate.
