Savills Investment Management (Savills IM), the international real estate investment manager, has acquired a modern new logistics building in Bocholt, North Rhine-Westphalia, from Aconlog Projektentwicklung GmbH in Cologne on behalf of a southern German pension fund. The portfolio, which has been built up for the German pension fund since 2015, now comprises 14 properties in five European countries.
The recently completed logistics building is located in the Duisburg/Lower Rhine region – a major logistics hub in Germany. The site offers direct access to the A3 motorway, providing quick access to the Ruhr area, the Netherlands and the seaports of Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Antwerp (Belgium).
The property has around 26,500 square metres of rental space and is fully let on a long-term lease to logistics service provider WM Group. The building consists of three interconnected units, which could also be used separately if required, offering a high degree of third-party usability. The property, built on a former industrial site, has strong sustainability credentials, with high energy efficiency and the use of heat pumps and LED lighting. There are also plans to install a photovoltaic system on the roof, which will enable operational carbon neutrality. DGNB Gold certification is being targeted and there are 28 EV charging stations and 34 bicycle parking spaces.
Patrick Griesbeck, Senior Investment Manager at Savills IM, says: “We are delighted to have secured this Grade A logistics building in Bocholt off-market for our long-standing investor. Thanks to its high-quality specification, consistent consideration of ESG criteria, long-term lease to a tenant with a strong credit rating, and central location in one of the most sought-after logistics regions in western Germany, the property is an ideal addition to the portfolio and contributes to further diversification.”
Tim Ulrich, Head of Transaction Management Germany, Austria & Switzerland at Savills IM, adds: “The acquisition of this modern and sustainable logistics property underscores our strategy of investing specifically in high-quality real estate in strategically important locations. We are searching for additional properties in Germany and Europe for various funds and mandates that offer positive economic and demographic development and high sustainability standards. In addition to logistics, the focus is on the living, office and food retail sectors.”
Oliver Blüher, Managing Partner at Aconlog: “With the sale of our brownfield development in Bocholt, we were able to successfully complete our tenth project since our founding in 2020 within 18 months from project start to closing. I would like to thank everyone involved for their focused and cooperative collaboration.”