The Provincial Executive (GS) of Limburg wants to cut some 8 hectares of forest in order to accelerate the expansion of VDL NedCar. This is evident from a proposal that GS sent to the Provincial Council on Friday. GS set the condition that compensation is arranged for the felled forest. Provincial councils will decide on the proposal on December 18.
BMW currently produces the X1 and the Mini Countryman in Born, but recently announced that it will stop after 2023. VDL NedCar is now looking for new clients. To facilitate that process, NedCar wants to have extra expansion space available in advance. In addition to clearing the forest, GS also want to relocate the Geleenbeek and refurbish the ring road. The total costs amount to about 100 million euros.
Almost half of that money comes from VDL, the province wants to put 35 million on the shelf. The rest should be contributed by the National Growth Fund. Should that fail, GS would like to add an additional 19.5 million euros to make the plans possible. According to GS, being able to serve a potential new NedCar customer on time is “crucial”. According to GS, postponing the preparations for expansion is “disastrous”. According to GS, the retention of NedCar is of national importance.
“VDL Nedcar must be able to act quickly and flexibly”, says the Provincial Executive. Nedcar director Paul van Vuuren also announced earlier in regional media that he was in favor of this intervention in the landscape and road network. He says he does not want to run the risk of disappointing a potential customer because a new place for a new factory cannot yet be offered. The inhabitants of the adjacent village of Nieuwstadt are less happy. They fear that their enjoyment of life will be affected by the plans.
Just under 5,000 people work at NedCar. Due to corona, the factory lost 700 million euros in sales in recent months.