Verdion hands over Kassel logistics building
Verdion has handed over a 7,945 sq m facility in the Lohfelden logistics park near Kassel to Winkler Logistik GmbH.
The specialist in spare parts for workshops, commercial vehicle owners, bus operators and agricultural operations has signed an 8.5-year lease for the building, which was developed on a speculative basis. Completion was on time and on budget. It is the company’s third building on this site.
The new facility comprises 6,676 sq m of warehouse, 711 sq m of mezzanine and 558 sq m of office space that will support Winkler Logistik’s expansion of its storage capacity for commercial vehicle parts in the area.
The building was constructed according to the highest standards of energy efficiency (KfW-40 standard) and is heated and cooled with heat pumps. The roof is prepared for the installation of a photovoltaic system, and charging points for electric cars and bicycles have also been incorporated. Verdion is aiming for DGNB Gold certification for the property.
Andreas Mayer, Logistics Director at Winkler, says: “The new property at the Lohfelden site will make a valuable contribution to our growing logistics capacity in the region. Now we will be in an even better position to offer our customers a very good delivery service in the coming years. The property is technically of a high standard and was built in a very short time.”
Alptug Taskin, Senior Technical Project Manager at Verdion, says: “We are very pleased to have been able to open up an expansion opportunity for our existing tenant at its traditional location. We worked closely with Winkler during the construction phase to ensure that the daily operational processes will smoothly and efficiently, and we enjoyed a good working relationship throughout.”
Verdion acquired the logistics park in February 2021 for €28 million its Verdion European Logistics Fund 1 (VELF 1), which invests in value-add properties in strategic locations. In addition to the newly built
property, there are three existing buildings on the 58,307 sq m site. One of them is let to a specialist for thermoplastic extrusion, two to Winkler Logistik. As part of the transaction, the existing lease for the Winkler space was extended to the same term as the new lease.
Florian Stöbe, Verdion Head of Investment – Germany, says: “We were able to activate new space for the portfolio in Lohfelden, extend leases and thus increase the income yield of the asset. We have thus implemented our expansion plans for the property in the VELF 1 fund and will soon be able to start further measures on the existing buildings. Despite current market headwinds, demand for core logistics properties remains high, as long-term sector trends – such as nearshoring of supply chains or the continued growth of online retail – have not changed.”