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The Barcelona logistics market continues to consolidate its position as one of the most dynamic in Southern Europe. However, the growth of e-commerce, the reconfiguration of supply chains and the need to bring distribution centres closer to urban areas are placing increasing pressure on one of the sector’s most limited resources: logistics land.
“The availability of plots for new developments in strategic locations is becoming increasingly scarce, particularly in Barcelona’s first and second logistics rings”, says Gerard Plana, Director of FORCADELL’s Industrial & Logistics department. This situation is driving a trend that is gaining momentum year after year: the conversion of existing industrial assets and the development of projects on brownfield sites.
Brownfield developments involve the transformation of former industrial land or facilities to give them a new productive use. Unlike traditional greenfield projects, which are developed on previously undeveloped land, brownfield projects make it possible to take advantage of established locations, with existing infrastructure and excellent transport connections.
This strategy offers several advantages:
In markets where supply is highly constrained, such as Barcelona, these projects have become one of the main ways of generating new logistics stock.
Demand for modern logistics platforms remains high, particularly in strategic municipalities in the Vallès, Baix Llobregat and other areas close to the metropolitan area.
Companies are looking for facilities capable of meeting new operational requirements:
However, available supply in these locations is limited, which is increasing interest in repositioning and industrial regeneration projects.
Beyond purely real estate considerations, the regeneration of industrial spaces aligns with the sustainability goals shaping the future of the sector. Reusing already urbanised land helps reduce the occupation of new sites, optimise existing infrastructure and promote more efficient growth in logistics areas.
As a result, more and more investors, developers and operators are incorporating ESG strategies that include the refurbishment and transformation of industrial assets as part of their growth plans.
One example of this trend was BeLog’s acquisition, advised by FORCADELL, of an industrial plot covering 15,922 sqm in Terrassa, a strategic location within Barcelona’s first logistics ring.
The project includes the development of a state-of-the-art logistics warehouse with approximately 11,600 sqm of gross leasable area (GLA), strengthening the company’s presence in one of Europe’s logistics markets with the most limited supply.
The transaction reflects an increasingly common reality: the ability to identify off-market opportunities and transform industrial assets into new spaces adapted to the current needs of operators and occupiers.
“Everything suggests that the shortage of available land will remain one of the main challenges facing the Catalan logistics market over the coming years. In this context, brownfield projects and industrial regeneration will continue to gain prominence as a way of generating new supply in established locations,” says Gerard Plana.
The combination of sustained demand, limited land availability and the need for more efficient facilities is redefining the way logistics assets are developed. Transactions such as BeLog’s project in Terrassa show how the sector is finding new ways to grow in an increasingly competitive environment.
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