Koningspleij-Noord is bursting with energy
Arnhem knows where its strengths lie. The industrial history of the city serves as a basis for the state-of-the-art and innovative industrial estate of Koningspleij.
Energy in any shape or form is one of the specialties of the city of Arnhem. Arnhem traditionally has been the home of many companies related to the energy sector, including Kema and Akzo. New companies working with hydrogen now also have settled here”, according to project manager Paul Smolders. “The manufacturing industry is a distinctive element inherent to Arnhem. You only have to see some smoke rise here before someone yells ‘Eureka’.”
Arnhem would like to see a combination of these sectors on Koningspleij-Noord, the industrial estate to be created in the triangle between the rivers Rijn and IJssel. Actually, Koningspleij-Noord is the expansion of the existing Kleefse Waard and Koningspleij-Noord industrial estate. Ambitions are high: Koningspleij Noord now presents itself as THE centre of innovation, sustainability and applied energy and environment technology.
Koningspleij-Noord is the latest industrial estate in Arnhem and that is why the city is eager to keep control on how the area is used. Of the nearly 45 hectares of municipal land, 35 hectares still have to be granted to carefully selected companies in environment categories 3 and 4 (maybe exemption for 5), whilst 5 hectares have been reserved for companies who have to move elsewhere.
In order to obtain a piece of land on Koningspleyn-Noord, a company must fit in the energy or environment technology sector, be innovative, offer a great deal of employment per hectare and use the available space extensively. Briefly put, Arnhem wants added value and is pleased to see that Al Gore has recently shown the world how important innovation and sustainability are.
The industrial estate along the busy Pleijweg will look quite different in a couple of years. The combination of industrial estate and new industrial activity will give Kleefse waard / Koningspley-Noord the desired qualitative appearance. The old Akzo port will be filled and partly transformed into a regional trans-shipment centre. Research and development companies are expected to set up shop along the Oude Veerweg. Future employees working for companies on Kleefse waard / Koningspley-Noord will find the city centre nearby.
