A huge increase in urban logistics property space is required across key centres across Europe in the next few years to meet the exponential growth of e-commerce and the resultant need for last mile delivery in cities, according to a new research report from Cushman & Wakefield.
The Urban Logistics report uses Cushman & Wakefield’s ‘Urban Space Model’ – developed in partnership with P3 Logistic Parks – to quantify total urban logistics space requirements in Europe’s top eCommerce markets based on current and future online sales volumes.
This new property sub-sector, from which the report takes its name, has emerged to meet the rapid growth in parcel deliveries. The ‘Urban Space Model’ expects delivery volumes across Europe to increase by a further 69 percent by 2021, with variations by market impacting space required. Its methodology includes a number of inputs and assumptions based on actual urban logistics practices and current online transactional data.
In terms of population and buying power, London is the largest and most mature e-commerce market in Europe with a current urban logistics space requirement of 870,000 sqm. This total is expected to exceed 1.2 million sqm in 2021, an increase of 42 percent.
After the UK, Germany is the next key e-commerce market in Europe, in part due to its multiple major cities, and its head start in online shopping relative to the rest of the continent. Required space across German markets is expected to increase by 77 percent, although the 370,000 sqm requirement in its largest market, Berlin, will still be less than a third of London’s requirement in 2021.
Less mature e-commerce markets on the continent will benefit from strong online sales growth which will fuel increasing levels of demand for space by 2021. Requirements are set to expand most in percentage terms in Spain, with Madrid and Barcelona increasing by 102 percent to 360,000 sqm and 167,000 sqm respectively. Urban logistics space requirements in Warsaw, a relatively small market that has outperformed growth estimates in e-commerce volumes over the past couple of years, are expected to expand by 90 percent from only 43,000 sqm to 82,000 sqm by 2021.
The report also shows that the cost of urban deliveries is high, up to 50 percent of total supply chain costs in Europe, totaling €70 billion and expected to grow 7-10 percent over the next five years. Currently, real estate solutions are situated on the outskirts and unable to enter cities due to competing higher-value land uses and city stakeholders’ opposition to logistics.
Lisa Graham, Head of EMEA Logistics Research & Insight, Cushman & Wakefield, said: “As more of us do our shopping online, it’s vital that our large cities have the capability to handle the increase in parcel capacity across Europe. Our Urban Space Model shows that substantial growth is expected across the board. The fact that a 42 percent rise in the UK is the smallest increase speaks volumes for the direction the market is heading.
“Looking ahead, it will be crucial for online retailers and parcel companies to use urban logistics space in order to meet rising customers’ expectations in terms of speed and reliability of delivery, while at the same time reducing costs in order to justify higher rents.”
Report contributor David Szendzielarz of pan-European warehouse investor-developer P3 Logistic Parks, said: “Urban logistics is set to be one of the most significant growth markets of the next few years as eCommerce continues to grow across Europe. Every additional kilometre adds to the cost and speed of delivery. There is no doubt that demand is there, however, securing the necessary consents to develop suitable facilities in city centres is bringing its own significant challenges. At P3 we are working closely with both customers and municipalities to develop solutions that will help us close the gap between current supply and expected demand, fulfilling the requirement for prompt, eco-friendly delivery, while also reducing congestion in cities.”
Rob Hall, Head of EMEA Logistics and Industrial, Cushman & Wakefield, said: “The Urban Space Model provides invaluable insight for occupiers and developer investors in anticipating the demand in the most dynamic part of the sector.”
