The MLP Business Park in Schalke is on track

The MLP Group announces the completion of the early public participation in the planning for the new Business Park Schalke. On July 28, the developer also held a family and neighborhood festival to inform about the planned project on the former Thyssen wire site. The next step is to draft an implementation agreement.

(Gelsenkirchen) The MLP Group, a developer specializing in brownfield sites, owner, and manager of high-quality commercial, industrial, and logistics parks, reports that the Business Park Schalke project is progressing as planned: After the project was first presented to the public in November 2021, the procedure for the project-related development plan was initiated in October 2022. In early May 2023, the early public participation in the planning for the new Business Park Schalke began. As part of this, the citizens of Gelsenkirchen had the opportunity until the end of June 2023 to view the planning documents on the website of the city of Gelsenkirchen and at the Buer town hall, and to actively contribute to the planning through suggestions and comments that could be submitted to the city. After evaluating the feedback by the city and the MLP Group in July 2023, the developer announced that the project planning can proceed as intended.

The feedback during the family and neighborhood festival held by the MLP Group on July 28 was also positive. During this event, the developer introduced itself and the planned MLP Business Park Schalke to the residents as well as representatives from politics and administration. Among the visitors were also former employees who were interested in the future of their former workplace and welcomed the revitalization of the site.

Creating a future on a historic site

With the MLP Business Park Schalke, the developer is realizing a modern and sustainable multi-user commercial park in the heart of the Ruhr area. Flexibly divisible units and small-scale areas starting from 495 m² cater to the needs of a diverse user mix. The rental of the spaces is primarily intended for businesses involved in the production, processing, storage, and distribution of various commercial goods, industrial, and consumer products. The focus is on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Additionally, units are planned in the east that are specifically tailored to the requirements of local service and craft businesses.

The business park is being developed on the approximately 120,000 m² site of the former Thyssen wire factory on Kurt-Schumacher-Strasse, thus benefiting from an excellent location and transport links via the A42 and A44 motorways. The buildings of the park will be constructed by the MLP Group in accordance with its own sustainability strategy. The innovative concept includes not only efficient resource utilization but also the installation of photovoltaic systems for energy-autonomous power supply and green spaces on the remaining roof areas. An appropriate infrastructure for e-mobility and (cargo) bicycles is intended to limit air emissions. Furthermore, to create a healthy and attractive workplace for future employees, the establishment of a fitness park with sports facilities is planned. Certification according to the DGNB Gold Standard (German Sustainable Building Council) is sought for all buildings.

Acceptance in the neighborhood promoted

“We are pleased about the successful completion of the early participation. The family and neighborhood festival was also a great success. We exchanged ideas with residents and interested parties. The economic impulse that we achieve with the revitalization of the site is widely welcomed. According to our rental concept, the focus of the Business Park Schalke is on the areas of crafts and commerce. In the next step, we are now working on the implementation agreement,” comments Martin Birkert, Country Manager Germany at the MLP Group, on the project progress.

Photo: © MLP / Image caption (l. to r.): Jens Tosse (Moderator), Andreas Bertsch (Technical Project Development Manager at MLP Group) and Simon Nowack (City Councilor of Gelsenkirchen for Economic Development, Gelsendienste, Law and Order, Citizen Service)