Related theme: Future-proof Site (Re)Development & Transformation
Period: 2021 – 2024
Client: Agrifirm, Netherlands
TAUW contact:
Agrifirm is a key player in the agricultural sector — a cooperative founded in 1892 and active in 15 countries. “Stronger together” is the essence of co-operative entrepreneurship, a principle Agrifirm strongly upholds. Their head office is based in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.
The agricultural sector is constantly evolving. For centuries, it has been in transition, continually seeking the right balance between economic viability and environmental responsibility. As one of the largest European cooperatives, Agrifirm is helping to lead this change.
In the 1990s, this led to a far-reaching centralisation of Agrifirm’s operations, with a number of sites becoming redundant as a result. The company has always prioritised environmental care, and redundant sites are carefully decommissioned before being sold, ensuring they are handed over in good condition to new owners.
In 2021, a decision was made to relocate activities from the ‘Lage Weide’ site, located at the port of Utrecht, to other Agrifirm sites. Spanning more than six hectares, the site housed various buildings, including a factory producing animal feed ingredients, a storage facility, a fertiliser distribution centre, and several offices. It was agreed with the future owner that the land would be delivered ready for development — meaning the buildings had to be demolished and the site remediated.
During 2022 and 2023, TAUW supported Agrifirm across the entire process — from preparation, research, and planning to contract formation and project supervision — to ensure the site was successfully demolished and remediated. In addition to meeting the required quality and demolition standards, we focused strongly on reusing as many of the released secondary construction materials as possible, preferably locally. This was even one of the awarding criteria during the tendering process.
The complexity of the project and the tight schedule made it a particularly challenging undertaking. It was an integrated project, involving multiple disciplines and stakeholders at once.
“Together with Agrifirm, we formed a multidisciplinary team,” explains Harm Hubbeling, Senior Project Manager at TAUW. “Thanks to the strong working relationships that both Agrifirm and TAUW had with the relevant authorities, they engaged with us constructively.”
The outcome was impressive: a plot ready for development, free of usage restrictions, fully prepared for the future - all within 18 months!
The relationship between Agrifirm and TAUW spans over 30 years and is characterised by mutual trust and a strong personal connection.
“We understand each other and speak the same language. Plus, we share the same mission. All of this makes for a truly solid partnership that aligned perfectly with our slogan: Better Together,” says Henry Nijsingh, Specialist in Laws and Regulations at Agrifirm.
It's not just a daily job, it's... a living ambition
Please get in contact with one of our consultants
