Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. and BPD reach agreement for the sale of the former Coberco site

Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. and BPD reach agreement for the sale of the former Coberco site

Yesterday, Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. and BPD announced that they had reached an agreement about the sales of the former Coberco site. This is the first step in the development of a new municipal hotspot at the Rhine quay in Arnhem, the Netherlands, retaining the historic and characteristic buildings.

ARNHEM, Netherlands, 07-Nov-2016 — /EuropaWire/ — The town planners of BPD will take up the challenge to develop a new urban area on the site of the former dairy plant Coberco, in which living and working will be combined while retaining the historical significance. Besides, the new town quarter must offer space for diversity and recreation. The Mayor and Aldermen of Arnhem have drawn up an ambition document with basic principles, frameworks, ambitions and preconditions. The plan of area developer BPD came out best during the selection. The characteristic historic buildings of the Coberco plant will become the multifunctional heart of the quarter, which will be given the name ‘De Melkfabriek’ [the milk plant].

Gerard Menting, Director Corporate Real Estate of FrieslandCampina: ‘We are fully confident that the proposal of BPD with respect to the development of the former Coberco site will in the future result in a new town hotspot in the municipality of Arnhem, the historic character of which will be retained.’

New hotspot for Arnhem

Herbert Bosch, development manager of BPD: ‘The inhabitants of Arnhem will be given a splendid and sustainable town area with the existing plant in the heart of it. We can hardly wait to start implementing our plans for this plant! In connection with our involvement in several other projects in Arnhem, we know that various local entrepreneurs and organisations are bursting to establish themselves in one of the most beautiful and strategically located sites in Arnhem.  Also by taking the concept of Studioninedots as a basis and by working together with heritage expert BOEi and various local parties, we have been able to create something unique. The transformation of the Coberco site is another step in the implementation of our strategy as inner-city area developer.’

About the plan
Immediately beside the town centre – along the River Rhine – a new, sustainable and low-traffic town quarter will arise. This new town hotspot of Arnhem will, apart from grand squares, offer a varied range of about 280 townhouses and apartments. The old multifunctional plant building offers ample space for a food market, catering establishments, cultural and art events, entrepreneurs and a town brewery. ‘<abbr title=”the Milk Factory”>De Melkfabriek</abbr>’ is flexible and this makes it suitable for all sorts of initiatives and, consequently, ready for the future.

About the Coberco site
After FrieslandCampina sold the former Coberco site to a development and building combination in the year 2000, it became the owner of its former production location again in 2015, because the development of the area did not get off the ground. The development opportunities for this special location were looked at in close cooperation with the municipality of Arnhem. FrieslandCampina offered the Coberco site for sale again late June 2016. A total of 15 parties were seriously interested.

FrieslandCampina was advised with respect to this sales transaction by 3Stone Real Estate and De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek N.V.

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SOURCE: FrieslandCampina