In the first half of 2025, brownfield developments accounted for more than half of the new construction volume in the logistics sector for the first time. Two of the largest projects, including the MLP Business Park Schalke in Gelsenkirchen, are currently being developed on former industrial sites.
In total, around 1.7 million square meters of new logistics space were realized in Germany in the first half of 2025. Brownfield developments, meaning the revitalization of formerly industrially used sites, accounted for 52 percent of this new construction volume, the Logivest Group told the press.
“Brownfield projects have been on the rise for
several years now. The first-time exceeding of the 50 percent mark clearly shows that logistics can no longer do without the revitalization of industrial wastelands,” reports Kuno Neumeier, CEO of the Logivest Group.
Trend reversal in area development
In 2024, around 60 percent of new logistics properties were still built on greenfields, which are undeveloped areas. According to Logivest, the current change is due in part to the ongoing limited designation of new logistics areas and the federal government’s land reduction target, which aims for consumption of less than 30 hectares per day by 2030.
Large projects predominantly on conversion sites
The increasing use of brownfields is particularly evident in large-volume developments. Two of the three largest logistics projects of the first half of 2025 were realized on such sites. The largest project is the MLP Business Park Schalke in Gelsenkirchen with around 72,000 square meters, built on the former site of the Thyssen wire mill. In Langenau near Ulm, a built-to-suit property for the Winkler Group is being developed with about 63,000 square meters by Dietz AG, also on a brownfield.
“While brownfield projects are generally rather limited in the Swabian logistics region, around 90 percent of developments in the Ruhr
area are already on an industrial wasteland. Logistics has absorbed the structural change here and revitalized the large industrial wastelands. A win-win situation – albeit with sometimes massive efforts for developers and investors,” explains Neumeier.
Regional differences and sustainability aspects
The development is particularly pronounced in the Ruhr area, where around 90 percent of new buildings are on industrial wastelands. In the Swabian logistics region, brownfield projects are still significantly rarer. Another feature of current project developments is the focus on sustainability. All three largest construction projects include photovoltaic systems on the roofs, green outdoor areas, and sustainable building concepts. (av)
