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Urban Production – Is industry returning to the city?

Urban Production – Is industry returning to the city?

Thanks to leaner, lower-emission and customised production processes, as well as a host of other developments, certain industrial sectors are bringing their production back to the city. This research project investigates which industrial sectors and companies appear (or will appear in future) to be suitable for urban production. As so-called ‘Future Urban Industries’, these are characterised, amongst other things, by flexible and lower-emission production systems and rely above all on skilled staff, knowledge and innovation. Furthermore, the project aims to analyse how such companies define their urban context and what requirements they place on an urban location. Furthermore, existing legal regulations relating to the establishment of urban production facilities will be examined, and finally, an assessment will be made of the extent to which (inner-)city brownfield sites, redeveloped areas, etc. can meet the location requirements of identified urban production facilities. 

Project duration: since 2017 

Background

Modern production techniques require modern production sites. This applies in particular to ‘Future Urban Industries’, which are dependent on an urban context for their development and competitive survival. For example, SPATH points out that ‘advancing globalisation, volatile markets and short product life cycles […] demand a high degree of flexibility and a highly skilled workforce from manufacturing companies, particularly against the backdrop of ongoing trends towards individualisation.’ [SPATH et al. 2014, p. 61.]

In this context, the concept of urban production offers the opportunity to bring suitable industries back into city centres and to (continue to) utilise existing infrastructure. Derelict inner-city sites, brownfield sites, former production and industrial buildings, etc., with suitable location characteristics can thus be put to good use once again. This also helps to reduce land sealing in city centres and traffic volumes (shorter commuting distances), as well as retaining skilled workers by relocating jobs to cities and thus closer to where people live. 

Objective

The research project addresses a topic that has received little scientific attention to date. The findings and tools developed (catalogues of criteria, recommendations for action, etc.) serve, on the one hand, to raise awareness that the establishment of production facilities does not necessarily have to entail the designation of new industrial estates on ‘greenfield’ sites. On the other hand, it aims to contribute to reducing the take-up of new land, the efficient use of existing infrastructure and the sustainable redevelopment of vacant buildings. Consequently, the aim is to support sustainable development.

 

Key research questions

Research Design and Work Steps

Owing to the complexity of the topic, the research approach incorporates both qualitative and quantitative elements. This applies both to laying the groundwork – including the identification and categorisation of ‘Future Urban Industries’ – and to the identification of relevant location criteria. A central element of the research is always its application-oriented focus. For example, when deriving the production sectors and industries relevant to inner-city production, a scoring model will be developed which will form the basis for a portfolio analysis and thus for decision-making. When identifying – including through surveys – and clustering location and production requirements, qualitative and quantitative criteria are also combined, so that these can then be related to (ideal) typical location criteria for inner-city brownfield sites, conversion sites, etc. Using an evaluation matrix (matching), recommendations for (inner-city) site selection can then be provided, differentiated according to various ‘Future Urban Industries’.

In line with the logic of the research approach, a mix of methods is employed in the research methodology. With the aid of secondary data analysis and selective expert interviews, the groundwork is laid, including by addressing general questions and establishing fundamental definitions. Building on initial categorisations, an extensive survey of companies from various potential sectors is carried out, focusing, amongst other things, on their requirements for an urban location.  From this, various sets of criteria (location and production requirements) can be derived, which are then compared with the results of expert surveys on the potential of inner-city brownfield sites, conversion sites, etc.  Using matching approaches, utility value analyses and portfolio analyses, recommendations for action regarding the site selection for ‘Future Urban Industries’ are derived.