US logistics operator Prologis has announced the forthcoming construction of a logistics facility currently under development in the DFactory Barcelona District, a project spearheaded by Barcelona’s Zona Franca. Construction will begin later this year on a 20,147-square-metre plot awarded by the Free Zone Consortium under a 40-year lease.

The new building is being designed as a flexible facility capable of adapting to different operational requirements. It will feature two symmetrical modules, 13 loading bays, two access ramps to the warehouse and an 11-metre clear height. It will be suitable for both multi-tenant operations and bespoke solutions, and will be equipped to meet the logistics sector’s evolving needs, such as cross-docking, urban distribution and new flows linked to e-commerce, port logistics and high value-added sectors.

Strategic in-demand locations
The warehouse will also meet the latest standards in terms of sustainability, energy efficiency, digitalisation and well-being. It is set to achieve BREEAM Excellent certification and will be equipped with a photovoltaic installation, a battery-based energy storage system and microgrid, rainwater harvesting, eco-friendly permeable paving and infrastructure for electric mobility.

Prologis’s commitment to one of Europe’s most strategic and in-demand logistics locations – the heart of Barcelona’s first logistics ring – is explained, among other factors, by its location: next to the Port of Barcelona and very close to Barcelona-El Prat Airport, the city centre and the main transport routes. This is in addition an area where land availability is virtually non-existent.

Logistics market strength
The company boasts occupancy rates of close to 100% at its logistics facilities in Barcelona, another factor that has undoubtedly underpinned this transaction. Prologis highlights the strength of Barcelona’s logistics market and emphasises the need to provide new facilities capable of supporting last-mile operations, urban distribution, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, food, logistics linked to the Port of Barcelona and other activities.

The firm’s Head of Asset Management for Southern Europe, Cristian Oller, said that Barcelona “remains one of the most robust and strategic logistics markets in Europe, particularly in prime locations such as the Zona Franca. With this project, we aim to continue supporting the evolution of supply chains and respond to the growing need for modern, flexible infrastructure equipped for urban and high value-added operations.”

Regional Head of Southern Europe Sandro Innocenti also added, “Barcelona and the Zona Franca represent one of the logistics ecosystems with the greatest potential in Southern Europe. This project reflects our commitment to continuing to invest for the long term in strategic locations capable of supporting the future transformation of logistics and economic flows.”

^{Photo: Prologis}