'Ultra-fast development DSV Tholen with right choice of location and tailored advice'

Turnkey builder Unibouw solves housing issues. With transport company DSV, an XXL DC in Tholen, Zeeland, is currently being realized in this way. Commercial advisor Rogier Jansen: "We do not submit standard concepts to the customer, but are experience experts and have sector specialists, enabling us to take the right steps at the right time. This requires attention, precision and, not to mention, clear communication - turnkey construction customized in all aspects. We unburden DSV including site selection."

With the Bouwgrondvinden.nl portal and support in the permit process, as well as coordination of implementation, Unibouw has a leading role, says Jansen. "We have gone through similar processes with DSV before, in the realization of warehouses in 's Heerenberg, Dordrecht and Venlo. Within the development process, all aspects are important for solving the issue itself, the quality and the planning: the execution planning is related to the preliminary process - finding a suitable location, the contacts with the municipality and getting the permits done. In the connection we make the difference."

DSV had some urgency due to an expiring lease for its existing distribution center in the region. In January 2019, an inquiry was made on Bouwgrondvinden.nl (a platform of the Van Dijk Group that displays many available building plots in the Netherlands for businesses) for a plot in West Brabant. That location was found at Welgelegen business park near Bergen op Zoom, just across the border with Zeeland in the municipality of Tholen. DSV Solutions purchased the 15-hectare site, and business was quickly conducted with the municipality.

Partial delivery in May

"The efforts and cooperation of the Municipality of Tholen should certainly be mentioned," Jansen continued. "The permit process started in June 2019 and in August we started the ground and foundation work. Anyway, it is not easy to find a plot of this size." By May 2020, the first 50,000 m² should be ready for occupancy. A firm commitment, just like the final delivery of the entire project scope in September. "Up to and including the fencing and paving, we will have everything taken care of by then," he says.

From site selection to completion

As a contractor, Unibouw provides turnkey construction. The realization phase involves parties that have previously built for DSV, but this is not a fixed feature. "The parties in engineering are the same as before, with the result that we can realize such complexes according to the required schedule. Without real teamwork in aligning disciplines, you don't get there. The bottom line is that we as Unibouw solve the client's housing issue, ultimately serving the client completely from site selection to completion. This allows DSV to start the move-in process with contract partners in a timely manner and occupy the DC on time."