Panattoni Europe Sees Brownfields as Development Opportunities

As greenfields are becoming more and more scarce and the demand for industrial sites significantly exceeds the offer, Panattoni Europe are turning their attention to brownfields in the Czech Republic. The industrial developer presented the new mission at Brownfields, the first conference of its kind which was held on Thursday 10 May 2018 at the Pragovka site located in the Prague district of Vysočany. The event was organised by CzechInvest in cooperation with the Association of Developers. Panattoni Europe participated as the main partner.

“The number of industrial sites developed on greenfields is decreasing, which makes the previously developed but currently out-of-use land all the more important. I would like to encourage the municipal authorities to see brownfields not as dead property, but rather as opportunities for development. Old barracks, closed-down factories, former agricultural cooperatives, old airports – we can spark a new life in these properties and create something that could not be developed anywhere else. As industrial developers we look for locations that offer good transport infrastructure and qualified labour force – these are the key elements. If these two prerequisites are met, it is definitely worth it to consider revitalisation into an industrial park,” says Pavel Sovička, the CEO of Panattoni Europe for the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The programme was divided into four discussion panels. Apart from sharing good practices and presenting revitalised brownfields, the conference focused on financing and potential obstacles impeding the revitalisation of these sites for both private and public sectors.

In terms of the volume of newly developed land, Panattoni Europe was the largest industrial developer in Europe last year. While 2017 was characterised by expansion and relocation, this year the company has decided to go for a bold plan focused on brownfield revitalisation and sustainable development.