A location right along the A37 highway near Geesbrug may be very suitable for a new business park. The municipality of Coevorden is investigating the opportunities for this.
Alderman Steven Stegen (BBC2014) reported this this evening during the budget discussion in the municipal council. “We see a promising location here, we are positive about a development at this location.” This could involve expanding the current business park near Geesbrug, or the construction of a new site.
“We are currently in ‘very constructive’ discussions about this with the neighboring municipality of Hoogeveen and we also want to involve the Dutch Techzone (a partnership for entrepreneurs and municipalities of Coevorden, Emmen, Hoogeveen and Hardenberg, ed.).” The councilor responded to questions from councilor Gilbert Mulder (PvdA), who wanted to know whether there were any plans for a new business park near Geesbrug. This plan has been suggested before.
The councilor cannot yet say exactly how large the new industrial estate at Geesbrug should be and what kind of companies could be established here. It is also still unclear how quickly this development can be realized. “We will have to deal with the nitrogen problem with this development, and the pressure on the energy network – the so-called grid congestion – also plays a role. So the site will certainly not be completed in one or two years, but we do want to accelerate this. We see a great importance in this.” According to Stegen, the fact that the plans are being discussed at regional level has to do with the fact that the municipalities ‘do not want to catch each other’s flies.’
Whether the site at Geesbrug will actually be built also depends on further consultation with the province. “We see possibilities here, certainly because of the proximity to the highway. But it is also possible that a different location will ultimately be chosen, for example near the Holsloot junction.”
Early next year, the municipality of Coevorden will start working with the province on these and other concrete locations for additional business locations, the councilor promised. According to the alderman, firm agreements must be made with the province in the short term about the number of hectares of new industrial sites in Coevorden.
This municipality currently has more than 383 hectares of gross industrial estate. “We notice that there is a shortage. We currently still have some space at the Europark business park in Coevorden, but it is not much anymore. If we want to have room for new development in the longer term, we must take the steps to do so now .”