Logistics real estate: land at the heart of the issues
Logistics has its full place in the reindustrialisation policy. However, land solutions are increasingly rare. While the sector's players are investing in the greening of the sector, they are mobilising to ensure that their needs are taken into account in public policies.
Logistics real estate plays a fundamental role in economic recovery and industrial relocation policies. Logistics is not a sector isolated from other parts of the economy. It acts in the service of trade, industry and even crafts. The boundary between logistics and industry is becoming increasingly porous. For a long time, logistics sites have been home to control, packaging, product customisation, kitting or delayed differentiation activities. But it is now integrated into transformation activities, often assembly, hence the name of "logistical" platform to identify these sites which thus participate fully in the reindustrialisation of France.
Like other sectors of the economy and housing, logistics real estate is legitimately concerned by the environmental context and regulations. This is notably the case with the "Zero Net Artificialisation" initiative, which aims to halve land consumption by 2031. It should be noted, however, that logistics, which is often singled out because of the imposing nature of certain XXL sites, only accounts for 0.94% of the artificialisation of land in France.
The efforts made by logistics real estate players to reduce their environmental impact are a reality. For example, the new BUT platform built by JMG Partners and Argan in Janneyrias, next to Lyon Saint-Exupéry airport, rivals the choices made to make it a sustainable complex: LED lighting, 1,000 m² of photovoltaic roofing allowing a self-consumption level of 36%, 14,600 m² of green spaces, BREEAM excellent and Biodiversity certification... Everything has been done to ensure that this site fits into its environment. But insists that this new site will optimise transport and the possible use of alternatives to road transport, particularly river transport.
Logistics sites are increasingly being built on brownfield sites. This is the case, for example, with the new 17,000 m² Danone platform in Viry-Châtillon. Danone has made efforts that will enable it to reduce the carbon emissions linked to the operation of the warehouse by 25%. For example, the white roof covering will reduce heat absorption by 10%.
However, the real estate supply situation is critical. The AFILOG association, in a study of April 2023[1]shows a map of the vacancy rate for logistics real estate in the French regions. With the exception of Hauts-de-France and, to a lesser extent, Normandy and Centre-Val-de-Loire, all French regions are in a situation of undersupply with a vacancy rate of less than 5%. In some regions, such as Brittany, Pays-de-la-Loire and even Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, finding a logistics platform that meets a company's needs is almost impossible. The President of Afilog, Claude Samson, pleads for an urgent mobilisation of the State and local authorities in order to reconstitute land to accommodate these activities that are essential to the functioning of the economy.
In the same vein, Anne-Marie Idrac, President of France Logistique, insists, in a March 2023 article[2]2], on the need to act through 3 actions: the greening of goods transport (which will be long and costly), the networking of storage facilities throughout the country and logistical sobriety, particularly upstream of the supply chains. Anne-Marie Idrac insists on the fact that "the shortage of warehouses that is affecting many French regions is detrimental to the competitiveness and attractiveness of the region.The immediate consequence of this situation in many French regions is that they are not able to meet the needs of their customers.
The immediate consequence of this situation in many regions, particularly in the West, is that platforms are located further away from consumer areas, thus increasing transport distances.
Logistics real estate is at a crossroads. By sounding the alarm, the associations representing this sector, which is essential to the economy, wish to draw attention to the efforts made but also to the need to better integrate logistics into regional planning choices. This is the price to pay if logistics is to play a full part in the reindustrialisation of France.
[1] Together let's give France the logistics it so badly needs - Afilog - April 2023
[2] Towards the greening of the logistics economy - France Logistique - March 2023