HGK develops industrial and logistics area in northern Cologne

Urban production, integrated logistics services, research and development – in northern Cologne, Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG is advancing its plans for a highly modern combined industrial and logistics area. A master plan has been developed that places sustainability and the goals of the Cologne city strategy 2030+ at its core.

(Köln) In November 2020, HGK AG purchased a 17-hectare area in close proximity to its own terminal for combined transport (KV-Terminal Nord) from the city of Cologne. By awarding this area to HGK, a company of the Stadtwerke Köln group, the Cologne City Council aimed to ensure that not only transshipment but also value creation and jobs would arise on one of the last designated areas for industrial settlements. In light of this objective, HGK has developed a master plan that could also be extended to adjacent, undeveloped areas.

City strategy 2030+ as a guiding point

“We want to enable an optimal interplay of urban production and logistics on the site. Digital tools, forward-looking mobility, and a modern working environment play a prominent role in this. We are closely aligned with the guiding themes of the city strategy 2030+,” explains Uwe Wedig, Chairman of the Board of HGK AG. “Thanks to our logistics expertise, we can guarantee an optimal integration of production and specific services, starting from the direct connection to the KV terminal. However, this district will also offer partial areas for research and development, laboratories, and start-ups to create the highest possible and sustainable quality of employment,” Uwe Wedig provides initial insights into the focal points of the master plan.

Sustainability through networking and high ecological standards

The central link of the development is ecological sustainability: By using decentralized, renewable energy sources in combination with specifications for energy-efficient construction, the foundations for a climate-neutral operation of the area by 2035 are to be established from the outset. This also includes optimal resource and land use, such as through jointly usable infrastructures and services. Collaborations with other municipal companies are also conceivable. Support is provided by the renowned Cologne engineering firm Dr. Schönheit + Partner. The internationally active planning and consulting company specializes in the development of master plans and particularly efficient and sustainable processes and buildings for production and logistics.

Establishment of a project company

Currently, HGK is intensively working on the concretization of the project with the aim of establishing a project company that is to begin marketing the site by the end of the year.

Photo: © Dr. Schönheit + Partner / Image caption: The graphic exemplarily shows what a future development could look like. The site is located in close proximity to the Cologne Nord railway terminal for combined transport.