Verdion starts spec phase of €100m Berlin logistics project

Logistics specialist Verdion has started construction of a €100 million industrial and distribution park at Ludwigsfelde near Berlin.

The project, which will be part of the Verdion European Logistics Fund 1 (VELF1), comprises 150,000 sq m. Three buildings totalling 62,500 sq m are being developed speculatively in phases, with the 41,398 sq m first building to be completed by spring 2024 and the remainder by the summer.

In addition to 53,000 sq m of manufacturing and warehouse space, this speculative phase includes 5,000 sq m of offices and 5,000 sq m of mezzanine space. Two existing buildings on the park will remain along with their current occupiers.

The park is being built on brownfield land at Brandenburgische Straße 51-51d, close to Berlin’s A10 ring road and formerly part of the IFA industrial area where trucks were produced from the 1960s until Reunification.

Verdion is targeting DGNB Platinum for the park. The specification includes solar panels, underfloor heating in the warehouses and offices via district heating system as well as battery charging point infrastructure for both cars and e-bikes.

Landscaped grounds will include biodiversity measures such as bat boxes, nesting for birds and an amphibian habitat. Beehives and insect hotels will be installed and around 220 new trees will be planted alongside the 140 being retained.

“Having seen the site shaped by decades of automotive industry activity, we are enjoying the challenge of transforming this brownfield land into a modern industrial and distribution hub powered by clean energy,” said Verdion’s head of investment for Germany Florian Stöbe.

“Against a backdrop of continuing high demand from transport, retail and industrial occupiers in the German capital, we are expecting to close a first lease soon.”

Verdion has appointed CBRE as leasing agent.