Pan Europe Logistics (PanEuroLog) is one of the most ambitious distribution initiatives in the French market and is part of a planned Europe-wide network of large-scale distribution facilities.
It was set up a year ago by former Bryant director Andrew Bell and has just concluded a major development agreement in France with Tarmac to develop an initial six sites.
The partners are planning low-density, actively managed distribution parks on sites at Lyon, Bollene (near Orange), Macon, Salon de Provence, Cambrai and Chatres, east of Paris. Master planner Fairhurst Ageca has identified the sites and contracts are close to being exchanged on the first, at Plaine de l’Ain, east of Lyon.
Fairhurst director Denver Humphrey says that the aim is to provide a far more comprehensive network than has traditionally existed in France.
“At the moment the industry in France is very fragmented. It needs to come together in a more organised way. There is a lot of conflict because of sporadic development on sites that are too small to meet the needs of heavier vehicles and the numbers that are on French roads,” says Humphrey.
Planning permissions have been won on the back of a policy of involving the local authorities in the scheme, usually as joint-venture partners.
PanEuroLog’s site at Plaine de l’Ain is 110ha and on the proposed link between the motorway which will bypass Lyon by 1996, linking two strategic motorways. The density of the development will be no more than 35%, much lower than normal standards, says Bell.
Development will be user-led, with no speculative development. The site will accommodate up to 3.5m sq ft and will have a dedicated rail freight link provided by agreement with SNCF, the French railway company.
Bell says that SNCF have been very willing to become involved in the developments and will play an active part in the marketing of the sites.
Jones Lang Wootton (Balay Prenot) is managing agent of the Lyon scheme. Sites will be sold freehold, or PanEuroLog, via Tarmac, will provide design-and-build packages or space to rent on normal French leases.
The link-up with Tarmac is seen as the key to unlocking the potential of the sites. Bell says that the agreement is “a first firm step in Europe for PanEuroLog”. Infrastructure work at Lyon is due to start shortly.
According to Tarmac Construction Europe managing director Stephen Reding, “the creation of a network of Europe-wide dedicated distribution parks offers significant construction opportunities for our businesses in mainland Europe”.
