EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - New business complex in former Lumax printing works

New business complex in former Lumax printing works - Utrecht, the Netherlands

Introduction

A new business complex in the former Lumax printing works will provide an opportunity to reduce the number of job seekers in the area. The additional parking places will also increase the quality of the business collective agency and access to the neighbourhood will be improved.

Description

The aim of the project is to increase job opportunities in Noordwest by creating a new business complex, in keeping with the needs and the character of the neighbourhood. The nature of the activities, for which the EFRD is being used, can be described as follows:

purchase of the premises;
interest charges;
management costs (from purchase to the start of building work);
building costs (including construction management and consultancy costs, such as architect and builder);
improving outside areas (creating necessary parking places);
preparatory planning costs.

Approach

The following approach is being used:

setting up 40 units for (continuation) starter employers;
creation of around 130 jobs;
increase in number of parking places;
organising participation evenings;
issuing a book on the project and the history of Lumax.

Results

The project resulted in the redevelopment of Lumax into a business complex for starter and second-stage employers, primarily from the Noordwest neighbourhood. Space for around 40 business units and around 130 jobs is created in the premises.

Resources used

European subsidy: € 1.036.263
Total cost: € 8.008.254

EU involvement

This project has been partially funded with Objective 2 funds. Since 2000 nine cities have been eligible for the Objective 2 Urban Areas in the Netherlands programme, which forms part of the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRD) of the European Union. EFRD is one of the four Structural Funds of the European Commission. The programme helps cities to carry out projects that benefit disadvantaged areas.

In the Netherlands, total European Objective 2 subsidies concern 192 million euros. 4.25% of the Dutch population lives in the selected areas.

The European Commission prescribes that for every euro from the EFRD, a minimum of one euro must be contributed from the government. The cities must therefore add their own public or private funding to the European subsidy. The European programme is linked to the urban plans agreed within the context of the urban policy of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. For this, the cities can make use of funds that have been allocated to them in the context of the national urban policy.

Contact info

Utrecht Westflank - local programme management
Phone: +31 30 2861603

Project start date

01/01/2001

Links

Lumax Printing City of Utrecht

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Keywords

Business support