EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Restructuring of obsolescent business parks

Restructuring of obsolescent business parks

Introduction

The 30 largest cities in the Netherlands, also known as the G30, are contending with the obsolescence of their business parks and are initiating restructuring projects either in collaboration with the (organised) business community, or otherwise.

Description

For the above-mentioned reason, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, together with a project group from the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment and the City of Leiden (on behalf of the G30 cities) decided to commission this pilot study among the G30 cities. This publication gives an overview of the restructuring of business parks in the G30. The phase, type, extent and bottlenecks in restructuring were qualitatively and quantitatively investigated.

Conclusions

In the G30, one third of all business parks are obsolescent or are currently being restructured. This amounts to approximately 195 sites. In terms of surface area, the restructuring problem for the G30 cities amounts to approximately 10,240 hectares gross.
The obsolescence of business parks is on the one hand a consequence of overdue maintenance and on the other, a result of functional obsolescence. Both result in bottlenecks that hinder the economic development of businesses and can mean increasing pressure on other functions or deterioration in the climate for establishing new businesses in a city. Obsolescence is characterised by four aspects, specifically use of space, appearance, accessibility and environmental hygiene.
After a short introduction to each aspect of obsolescence, it is subsequently indicated for each bottleneck what it entails, whether it occurs relatively often and what solutions have been devised in practice.
Bottlenecks that have to do with image or accessibility are often the reason for restructuring. For many revitalisation projects, dealing with the deterioration of public and private spaces is the most important task. Besides roads and green areas and the appearances of premises and lots, parking facilities require particular attention.

Contact info

The Ministry of Economic Affairs
Phone: +31 70 3798911
ezinfo@postbus51.nl

Publication date

24/01/2003

Researcher

ETIN Advisors

Links

The Ministry of Economic Affairs

Task of restructuring in the G30 cities. Final report (PDF, Dutch, 339KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Keywords

Business support