Logistics and activity: the Lyon region is not in crisis

20,000^m2 independent logistics platform for rent near Lyon

The Lyon region is the second largest logistics region in France after Ile-de-France. In twenty years (2000-2019, source Sitadel-CGDD database), 12 million^m2 of logistics space have been built in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, in particular in the major logistics hub of the Lyon region, to which the north of Isère and the Plaine de l'Ain are naturally attached. This region alone represents more than 11% of the surface area built in France.
If we limit ourselves to the Lyon basin as defined, plus the north of the Rhône valley (Valence) and areas of more than 10,000 m², the regional logistics stock thus consists of 5.6 million m².

A dynamic logistics market

Despite the difficulties of the year 2020, the Lyon logistics market (cf. Logistics Real Estate Market Review 2020) has experienced a certain dynamism. Transaction figures are higher than those for 2019. 523,000 sqm of transactions were recorded in the wider Lyon area.
This dynamism was driven in particular by logistics service providers, who alone accounted for 45% of the market in 2020 in this region. For example, a major international service provider has leased 20,000 sq. m. in Saint-Quentin Fallavier to support the household appliances sector. Sotradel, a regional player in transport and logistics, has experienced some growth thanks to logistics services and has rented an additional 10,000 m².
Logistics service providers have been called upon to meet the growing demand of e-commerce, particularly in a context of rapid development of omnichannel, accentuated by the health crisis.
This dynamism, which may seem surprising in the current economic climate, is marked by significant installations of shippers from the distribution or industrial logistics sectors. The heating and sanitary equipment distributor Richardson has rented 32,000 m² to the south of Vienne in order to reorganise its regional logistics. In Saint-Vulbas, the Lyon-based laboratory Arrow, which specialises in generic medicines, has chosen to set up on a 25,000 m² site.
These transactions, which testify to the vitality of the market, nevertheless mask a fairly limited supply. The available supply in 6 months is limited to 200,000 sqm, including 54,000 sqm of sites under development with a building permit obtained. Note the availability for letting of a 20,000 sq. m class A site in the south-east of Lyon at Toussieu. To the north of Lyon, an exceptional 36,000 sq. m divisible site is being developed and is being offered for sale.

Numerous company start-ups

As with the logistics offer, the Lyon region is marked by both a shortage of business premises and a dynamic market. The latter is more concentrated in the south-east of the conurbation. Tenants are often wholesalers, small industrial businesses or transport and logistics providers. Buoyed by its growth, Vancia Menuiserie, a window door manufacturer, has leased a business premises and offices of almost 800^m2 in Beynost. Euhenair Invest, which specialises in insulation - also a booming sector - has acquired 510^m2of business premises in Corbas. Gustoneo, a specialist in organic products, has rented a 1,060 sq. m. business unit in Brignais.
The dynamism of the business market is also driven by numerous business start-ups, in logistics, but also in e-commerce and digital activities. For example, EOL Lyon helped the Official Vegan Shop to lease a 1,000^m2 business premises. Like many of its counterparts, this start-up is experiencing exponential growth.

A future to compose

The current health crisis is expected to result in the closure of some businesses. In turn, the business sector will then have a significant potential for industrial relocation. For the time being, the demand for industrial sites has not yet appeared, but it would be advisable to prepare the territories, and in particular the Lyon region, for the reception of these activities. An inventory of future wastelands would then constitute an opportunity for the region.

EOL: your privileged partner

Involved in the development of the main logistics sites in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, EOL assists companies with their establishment projects. For more information on these projects, please contact Laurent Bedjidian, Director of EOL Sud -lbedjidian@eol.fr - Tel. 06 86 57 45 03 and for business premises and offices, Benjamin Sellier, Director of Activities/Offices Lyon bsellier@eol.fr Tel. 06 84 97 98 67