Underground distribution center at A1 business park Deventer

Chinese investor invests in supply by Zeppelin

Chinese investor Ying Group has come forward with plans to build a distribution center unique to the Netherlands at the A1 business park in Deventer. The Deventer company VDR Bouwgroep is involved in the plan development. It involves an underground distribution center (DC), which will be supplied from the air. The "roof" of this ultramodern DC will then act as a landing site for an impressive cargo-carrying zeppelin that will supply four "regional" DCs in Europe from a main DC in Germany. For now, only it is known that one of those four DCs will be located in Deventer.

Investor in sustainability
It is well known that Chinese companies are investing heavily around the world. Also in Europe, with major investors such as Wang Group, Fosun International, Ying Group and the HNA conglomerate focusing on the Utilities and Transportation sectors.

VDR Bouwgroep and the municipality of Deventer announced that they have been approached by a representative of the Ying Group to build a special project: an underground distribution center, which will be supplied from the air in early 2021.

Asked about Ying Group's reason for investing in Deventer, the investment company announced through spokeswoman Xiàohuà: "We are one of the largest investors in sustainable projects in China. China is a big country, with enormous technological knowledge, which is growing rapidly. We see daily that it is of utmost importance that we look beyond growth and profit maximization. If we do not invest now in a more sustainable way of doing business, we will deplete our planet at record speed. Starting with our own country. We therefore see it almost as our duty to give the highest priority to sustainable solutions wherever we invest in the world. Our client, for whom we invest here in Deventer, understands this and has also explicitly chosen the business park on the A1. The municipality of Deventer has set high sustainability ambitions for this park, the central location on the A1 provides our customer with a perfect base for its logistics traffic, and thanks to progressive cooperation with all parties involved, we are going to experience a world first in 2021: the bulk supply will take place with a zeppelin. A state-of-the-art, clean and quiet way of transporting freight."

Which company will move into this building has not yet been announced for competitive reasons. What is known, however, is that it is a large online retailer that has entered into a partnership with England's Hybrid Air Vehicles. In 2020, this company hopes to deliver the first zeppelins for cargo aviation. The Airlander 50 will be 119 meters long and have a maximum payload of 60,000 pounds.

Deventer company builds eye-catcher.
General Director of VDR Bouwgroep, Luc Baltus, emphasizes being very honored by Ying Group's ambitious plan. "The available land in our country to build on is becoming increasingly scarce. The solution now found by building underground and creating a landing site above ground offers many advantages. To begin with, we are talking about a world first: a cargo zeppelin delivering bulk goods close to the A1 motorway is, of course, a huge eye-catcher. Apart from a relatively small outbuilding, there will be no other visible buildings in this landscape. That gives an extra green look to the business park."

Circular Building
The knowledge of circular construction that VDR Bouwgroep gained by founding the Nexteria knowledge platform, the company is also applying in this building. Baltus: "It is therefore not for nothing that Ying Group turned to us. We are leaders in circular construction and our vision of circular land policy is groundbreaking. Even before the start of construction, agreements were made by all parties involved regarding the dismantling of the building. All materials used will be taken back by the various suppliers at the end of this building's useful life. And can be used again as a building product or fully returned to the circular chain."

What will be left in about 25 years, according to VDR Construction Group, is a clean lot, space for new construction (residential, industrial, urban parks or other uses) and materials that are maximally reused in new projects.

By building underground, enormously high insulation values of the building are achieved. Baltus: "Combined with a whole package of energy-saving, but also -generating measures, we are going for the highest score according to the BREAAM-NL standard: Outstanding. This building methodology takes nature and the environment into account in all aspects. So on all fronts, this is a sensational project for us."

Green business park
A1 Business Park Deventer is one of the greenest business parks in the Netherlands. There are no natural gas connections and two windmills along the A1 provide part of the energy supply.

Since 2017, an electric car charging station has been provided with every lot sold. The realization of a hydrogen filling station is under investigation. Possibly A1 Bedrijvenpark Deventer will also become the operating base for electric city distribution. Companies themselves are betting heavily on sustainable business premises and processes.

Information packet
Interested parties can register at www.yinggroup-A1.nl register for an information package, which will be prepared in cooperation with A1 Bedrijvenpark Deventer. The information package will be released during week 14.