Under the name De Zuivelfabriek BPD will convert the location of more than 3 hectares into a community for living, working and recreating. In the current plan there is a possibility for 400–600 apartments.
With this the first step is taken for the development of a new urban district, whereby the zone along the Eindhoven Kanaal will change into a sustainable urban area, where living, working and recreating are combined and of which the historic significance is retained. Moreover, there must be room for diversity in the new urban district.
At the site there are seven characteristic factory buildings with a monumental nature of Campina. They will become the multifunctional heart of the new community in the first elaboration of BPD.
Location
The Campina site is situated between the Kanaaldijk-Zuid, the Hugo van der Goeslaan and the Dirk Boutslaan and is part of business park De Kade. The town centre of Eindhoven can be seen from the factory buildings. The zone has an important function in the connection between the centre of the city, the ring and the canal. The Campina site is situated inside the ring and covers an area of about one third of the canal zone. The development of the site is therefore a step to the subsequent redevelopment of the entire zone.
BPD wants to take on the challenge to develop a new urban area at the site of the former Campina site. The Municipal Executive and municipal council of Eindhoven had already established the ‘Development Framework Canal Zone – Eindhoven Campina site’ for the redevelopment, including the starting points, frameworks, ambitions and preconditions. The plan of area developer BPD came out on top during the selection.
New urban area
A new urban area will be developed at the site of the former Campina factory along the Eindhovens Kanaal. An area with a mix of functions: living, working/business activity and recreating, with a focus on people. A car-free place, without traditional streets and pavements, but with ‘shared spaces’ which encourage people to meet each other.
The concept of Studioninedots, which was realised in cooperation with landscape architect Delva, goes beyond the location itself. The design of public space, with a variation of special living environments, may serve as an example for the future design and greening of the entire canal zone. Large-scale retail trade and offices are not allowed according to the view of the municipality. The port area of Münster and the Piushaven in Tilburg are mentioned as examples in the municipal view.
The Campina complex along the Dirk Boutslaan started to operate in 1961. The company employed about 140 persons at the moment of closure in September 2015. The factory was dismantled after FrieslandCampina had terminated the production activities at the Dirk Boutslaan. After the establishment of the ‘Development Framework Canal Zone – Eindhoven Campina site’, the Campina site was put up for sale by FrieslandCampina in March 2017.
Carl Smeets, regional manager at BPD: ‘Now there is an opportunity to realise a blue-green corridor from the Campina site, which extends along the water in western direction to the centre and follows the green border of the DAF complex in eastern direction. The development of the Campina site into an innovative environment, where industrial and new premises are combined, may be an important first contribution to this process.’
Wilbert Seuren, the alderman who is responsible for finance and spatial planning: ‘As a municipality we want to see De Kade ‘colour’ from a monotonous business park into an attractive mixed urban environment, which fits in with the surrounding neighbourhoods. The redevelopment of the Campina site sets the tone for this change. We also retain five industrial monuments, which are important for the experience and awareness of the Eindhoven history. It is stated in the Development Framework, which was established by our municipal council for this site, that we would like to see houses for a broad target group, therefore different price classes. It is good to see this back in this plan. It is also good to see that FrieslandCampina has involved neighbouring companies and residents to discuss the plans. We will now realise the transformation in phases in close cooperation with BPD.’
Friesland Campina was advised by 3stone Real Estate and De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek for the sales transaction.