Start of construction work on the “Am Zunderbaum” Industrial Estate
The construction company Saarland Bau und Boden Projektgesellschaft (SBB) is set to transform the former Federal Armed Forces grounds in Kirkel and Homburg into a 45-hectare industrial site. It is expected that the development works will be finished around mid-to-late 2014.
“The transformation of these grounds forms part of our Industrial Areas Masterplan, which places the emphasis on large, uninterrupted interconnected stretches of land,” says Saarland Secretary of State Barke. “This industrial estate will breathe fresh life into the economy of the Saarpfalz district, thereby also creating further growth and employment. The “Am Zunderbaum” Industrial Estate represents a slice of the future for the entire region.”
“Together, we are turning the former military depot into the second-largest industrial site in Saarland,” says Thomas Schuck, CEO of SHS Strukturholding Saar GmbH and its subsidiary SBB. “Along with the redevelopment works, we are also responsible for supervising the process of relocation. In this way, SHS is contributing to the creation of new jobs in Saarland.”
Framework development planning for this urban development has been underway since 2009. SBB acquired the land from the Institute for Federal Real Estate at the end of 2010. The plan is to create a continuous industrial estate, thereby making it possible for plots of land to be custom-tailored in a generous, flexible manner. This is geared in particular towards the needs of businesses that have especially high requirements in terms of space, are looking for flexible framework conditions in terms of construction and operate on a multi-shift basis.
“Through the development of the “Am Zunderbaum” industrial estate, the Municipality of Kirkel is aiming to meet the demand for industrial and commercial sites within the community – a demand that remains substantial” said Frank John, Mayor of the Municipality of Kirkel. “This will enable us to provide companies who wish to relocate to within our area with tailor-made parcels of land.”
Klaus Roth, Mayor of Homburg, emphasised that the town had played an active part in the joint planning of the conversion of the site, and was in the process of developing further sites in the immediate vicinity. “Changes to existing land development plans – plus binding land-use plans, all of which were adopted by a large majority by the town council – have created the necessary legal certainty. Now, the key factors are intelligent development, well thought-out transport connections, successful marketing of the sites and the settlement in the area of suitable companies. I am confident that the partners concerned are going to come up with results that will impact positively on Kirkel and Homburg, on the Saarpfalz district and on the entire region by creating jobs and value creation chains that will benefit all of us.”
Existing lease agreements have expired. License agreements have been reached with seven former lessees, and negotiations for the purchase of the relevant land have been carried out. Interested parties have already been in touch in respect of the entire land. The demolition and development works will not cause serious problems for businesses already located in the area.
It is presently envisaged that the demolition works will finish in Spring 2013, following which the site will then be redeveloped. Plans for the development works are underway and include, among other things, the construction of new storm drains and sewers and the upgrading of the entire infrastructure for the supply of such utilities as electricity, gas, water and telecommunications. Depending on the progress of the redevelopment works and the kind of businesses relocating into our area, the first new company premises could be built as early as the end of 2013. The building projects would be able to start in parallel to the redevelopment works.
The overall costs for the conversion of the site amount in total to approximately 21.83 million euro. Of this, the land itself accounts for around 2.78 million, SBB will be investing around 3.97 million and the EU contributing 6.28 million. The remaining 8.6 million euro will be raised via the proceeds from the sale of parcels of land.
