The newest logistics and warehouse parks of Panattoni Europe and Waimea Holding in Bydgoszcz

The warehouse space market in Poland is growing gradually and 2015 was a record-breaking year in terms of demand and supply. Bydgoszcz first place in the World Bank report „Doing Business in Poland 2015”, the title of „Most investor-friendly city”, awarded by the magazine „Eurobuild Central & Eastern Europe” and the attractive offer of investment areas mean that investors from the warehouse- logistics sector are more willing to place their projects in Bydgoszcz.

Panattoni Europe and Waimea Holding SA  are the companies, whose newest investments are being processed in the city. This fact was the starting point for the organization of a press conference by the Mayor of Bydgoszcz and the Bydgoszcz Regional Development Agency,  titled „The logistics-warehouse market in Bydgoszcz – the new investment projects” and held on 14 January 2016 in the City Hall of Bydgoszcz.

The conference was an opportunity to identify strengths of Bydgoszcz that encourage to invest, meet the city politics in this area, take a look at position of Bydgoszcz against competition in the logistics warehouse market in Poland, and also listen to the opinion of investors who have decided to locate their capital in our city.

The presentation by Danuta Dzierżak, Associate Director Industrial and Logistic Axi Immo Group Sp. z o. o. was an introduction  to the discussion. It was dedicated to global trends in the design and creation of modern storage facilities, their implementation on the Polish market and expectations of potential lessees. Factors affecting the attractiveness of Bydgoszcz for this sector were also analyzed.

President of Bydgoszcz, Rafał Bruski introduced the assembled reporters to characteristics of the city in terms of logistics investments, taking into account the development of logistics infrastructure. Particular attention was dedicated to one of the most important projects affecting the growth of attractiveness of Bydgoszcz as a logistics center – the construction of express road No. 5, connecting A1 and A2 motorways and the offer of investment areas in the city, covered by the Local Spatial Development Plan. ‘Favourable conditions for the location of investment projects and infrastructure investments, which are strategic for the development of the city are strengthening the position of Bydgoszcz as the economic leader in the region’ – said president Bruski. ‘I am delighted that we are meeting among investors who associate their business future in logistics-warehouse sector with Bydgoszcz’ – added president of Bydgoszcz.

Good climate for business and the strengths of the city are noticed by the largest companies in the sector. ‘Bydgoszcz is a strong regional economic center. In a city, that is now a diversified industrial-service center, many domestic and foreign companies have their headquarters. Definitely the further development of the manufacturing sector will generate demand for new warehouse spaces. Well-educated and young population is a major advantage of Bydgoszcz. Thanks to the presence of numerous universities with technical and economic profiles, the city offers access to specialized staff’- commented Piotr Bzowski, Leasing and Development Director at P3 Logistic Parks.

At present, two large logistic projects are being implemented in the city. The first of them – the Panattoni Park Bydgoszcz is the investment of Panattoni Europe – a part of Panattoni Development Company, one of the largest industrial developers in the world, operating in 27 branches in North America and Europe. ‘The complex of production and storage facilities is located partly in the area of former ZACHEM Chemical Works in the immediate vicinity of the Bydgoszcz Industrial Park – Technology, only 9 km from the center of Bydgoszcz, 4 km from the national road no. 10 and 10 km from the junction of the national road No. 25 and the express road No.10. Currently,  we’re doing the first phase of the investment. Within its framework, two buildings  with a total area of ​​26 000 square meters (16 000 square meters and 10 000 square meters) are being constructed and the planned completion is scheduled for the second quarter of 2016’ – said Tomasz Śrama, Leasing Manager at Panattoni Europe.

The second project, which will be implemented in the near future is the Waimea Logistic Park Bydgoszcz with floor area of ​​approx. 90 000 m². Its contractor is Waimea Holding SA, which implements its projects throughout Poland. ‘The Waimea Logistic Park Bydgoszcz will consist of buildings designed in accordance with the requirements of modern warehousing and logistics, as well as surfaces adoptable to the requirements of manufacturing processes. Our investment will be carried out in three stages. The first stage will take approx. 5.5 hectares. The property is located in the south – eastern part of the city, a network of adjacent streets provides multidirectional access and the presence of public transport increases the value of this investment.  The Park will offer to lessees a comfortable place to do business, taking into account the individual nature of each company’– stressed/underlined  Andrzej Rosiński, CEO of Waimea Holding S.A.

CEO of the Bydgoszcz Regional Development Agency, Edyta Wiwatowska pointed out the support offered to investors from production and logistics – warehouse sector, willing to invest their capital in the city on the Brda River. She also stressed the essence of promotional activities undertaken by Bydgoszcz Regional Development Agency to interest future investors in the offer of the city: ‘The conference ‘Bydgoszcz- the new production center of Poland’, organized by us last year, met with the approval of the sector representatives – developers, logistics and production companies and gathered over 150 guests. Also in 2016 Bydgoszcz Regional Development Agency will provide for a series of activities promoting Bydgoszcz as a good place to invest.’