Renewal of an old derelicted industrial area

Spaanse Polder 2015

Rotterdam/Schiedam

The Netherlands

Content of presentation:

• Starting points

• Specific problems

• Phased approach

• Results

• Concrete actions

• Research projects

• Tips

Starting points

Facts Spaanse Polder

• 200 hectares

• developed 1920 - 1980

• 650 businesses

• 10.600 employees

Starting points

Motive

Shortage of industrial locations in the region of Rotterdam:

• revitalisation of derelicted industrial areas

• developing new locations

Starting points

Situation Spaanse Polder

• many potentials

• need of renewal:

- obsolete real estate

- vacancy

- image problems

- economic meagreness

Starting points

Challenge

To renew the Spaanse Polder in a period of 15 years to a modern mixed park of high quality appearance as befits such a park in which entrepeneurs are willing to invest and are proud of.

Specific problems

• ‘garbage can politics’

• short term thinking

• low degree of organization

• shortage of relocation sites

• lack of trust

• high costs and low profits

Phased approach

• joint responsibility of municipal authority and trade & industry

• project devided into three periods: up to 2005, 2005-2010 and 2010-2015

- activity plan up to 2005

• concrete actions

• research projects

Results

What has already been done?

• Van Nelle factory

• Giessenplein

Results

What has already been done?

• Van Nelle factory

• Giessenplein

Concrete actions

What’s in process?

• Almstraat/Vliststraat

• Tollens location

Concrete actions

What’s in process?

• Almstraat/Vliststraat

• Tollens location

Research projects

What’s in process?

• Possibilities of intensive, sustainable use of space

• Redevelopment of the docks

• Elaboration of cluster policy

Research projects

What’s in process?

• Possibilities of intensive, sustainable use of space

• Redevelopment of the docks

• Elaboration of cluster policy

Research projects

What’s in process?

• Possibilities of intensive, sustainable use of space

• Redevelopment of the docks

• Elaboration of cluster policy

Tips

What is essential?

• Joint responsibility

• Tenacity and flexibility

• Personal approach

• Communication

• Political support

• Sufficient legal framework

• Make money with money

Tips

Last but not least

High ambitions: just do it !!!