EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Restructuring ageing business parks

Restructuring ageing business parks

Introduction

This is a report on the ageing and restructuring of business parks. The research has been commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (Economische Zaken) and the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (Volkshuisvesting, Ruimtelijke Ordening en Milieu).

Description

Both ministries wanted to bring some order to the many terms and concepts used in restructuring projects and needed fresh ideas regarding the government's role in investing in existing business parks. The Social and Cultural Planning Office has explored the possibilities available for monitoring the ageing of business parks. This research also suggests solutions for how the ageing of business parks can be counteracted.

Conclusions

A questionnaire assists local authorities in distinguishing the social benefits and costs associated with the restructuring of a business park. This questionnaire also highlights which public and private parties have contributed to the ageing process and which parties stand to profit from the restructuring.
There are four ageing processes: technical, economic, social and spatial ageing. A city can distinguish which role is played by the various parties in the ageing of a business park and the spatial level at which this is taking place.
Monitoring the ageing of business parks is a complex matter. There are numerous indicators providing information on aspects of ageing. However, these are also influenced by other factors, they are difficult to measure and require much additional information on the park and its surroundings. This project underlines the questions that promote the discussion of how a prototypical ageing monitor should be set up.
In order to keep track of the progress of restructuring projects, the interventions and advances made during the project can be kept updated in a restructuring monitor. This is easier to create than an ageing monitor.

Contact info

Ministry of Economic Affairs
Phone: +31 70 3798911
bedrijventerreinen@minez.nl
Ms I.C. Carsouw-Huizing

Publication date

10/05/2001

Researcher

Social and Cultural Planning Office

Links

Ministry of Economic Affairs Social and Cultural Planning Office

Ageing business parks: a structure for restructuring (PDF, Dutch, 792KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Keywords

Business support