Board of Government Advisers recommendation on (X)XL distribution centres

The rapid expansion of (X)XL real estate is a cause for concern. The present demand-driven development is accompanied by a lack of supervision and there is too little control over the impact that the (X)XL trend has on the landscape, city and infrastructure. National and local government should impose much stricter demands and reflect on what is and is not permitted. In its recommendation on (X)XL distribution centres, the Board of Government Advisers, of which Berno Strootman was a member until 1 January 2021, called for less, more compact, more concentrated and more multifunctional ones.

At the request of the Board, the Stec Group has analysed and interpreted the XXL trends and charted the planning instruments available. Architectenbureau Rademacher & De Vries has carried out a spatial analysis of the development and physical appearance of the large-scale logistical real estate. Design research has explored spatial strategies with potential.

The Board calls for clear choices. Using financial and spatial frameworks and stimuli, it is possible to brake the growth of the surface area occupied by (X)XL logistical real estate. The revenues can be used for the redevelopment of outdated industrial estates (brownfields). Clustering is needed, because it has the lowest impact on the landscape, is efficient, and makes it easier to share facilities such as car parks, infrastructure, etc. Developments on greenfields outside the designated cluster locations should be prohibited. Instruments such as a red-for-red regulation can be used to clear solitary (X)XL real estate (loners) and transfer it to clusters.

Finally, demands should be imposed on (X)XL real estate with regard to multifunctionality, such as the use of roofs and outside walls to generate energy and/or for ecological ends.