Nrep, Urban Partners’ real estate investment platform, via its logistics development and management business Logicenters, and its joint venture partner GARBE Industrial Real Estate GmbH have acquired a 20,000 sqm site in Leipheim, Germany, for €17 million to construct a sustainable logistics centre with a total area of approximately 11,600 sqm. Construction is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2025.
Wolfgang Ködel, Head of Nrep Germany, said: “We are very pleased to work with GARBE again on this project. Logistics properties are a central part of our investment strategy, in which we focus on sustainable solutions and a customer-centric approach.”
The site is part of a former air base, where remnants of its military use, such as the former run and individual buildings, remain intact. After the base was decommissioned, the site was converted into the 112-hectare inter-municipal industrial estate known as “Areal Pro”. Before construction work can begin, old foundations and buildings need to be demolished, with demolition material being professionally disposed of.
Adrian Zellner, member of the executive board of Garbe Industrial Real Estate, said: “We believe that the revitalization of brownfield sites offers by far the greatest potential for future-oriented project developments. Especially in dense or unusual locations, this will be the only way for new and interesting projects.”
The planned new building will consist of a hall area of around 10,400 sqm, along with office spaces, social rooms, and other usable areas totalling 1,200 sqm on intermediate levels. The property will feature ten dock levellers and a sectional door at ground level, while parking spaces for 40 cars and two trucks are planned for the outdoor area. Completion is planned for the second quarter of 2026.
Martin Ohly, General Manager of Logicenters Germany, said: “Brownfields are the future. By making previously sealed surfaces usable again and upgrading them by modern sustainability standards, brownfield revitalization contributes significantly to environmental improvement.”
The property is being developed according to current ESG criteria. The roof surfaces of the new building will utilize up to one-megawatt peak of renewable energy through the installation of a photovoltaic system. Additionally, the building will be heated using air-source heat pumps, eliminating the need for fossil fuels, and will be equipped with an energy-efficient LED lighting system. The property is targeting Gold Standard certification from the German Sustainable Building Council.
Located in close proximity to the A8 motorway, the site offers convenient access to Ulm, Stuttgart, Augsburg and Munich. The Leipheim junction, located approximately three kilometres away, allows for easy access without passing through the town itself. Additionally, the A7 motorway spanning approximately 960 kilometres, can be reached through the Ulm/Elchingen freeway junction. The A7 is not only the longest freeway in Germany but also one of the country’s most vital north-south transportation routes. Such strong connectivity supports the site’s logistics suitability.
CBRE acted as a broker on this transaction.
