The RAG site on the Shamrockring is to be converted to a residential and business district over the next few years. Essen-based FAKT AG has acquired the plot and is planning a large amount of development within the existing buildings at the 10 ha site in Herne/Germany.
FAKT AG CEO Prof Hubert Schulte-Kemper announced this at a press conference in the RAG canteen at the historic Mulvany-Villa, together with Bernd Tönjes, CEO of the RAG Management Board and Herne‘s Lord Mayor Frank Dudda (Figure 1).
The plans include office spaces and restaurants. Extensions to the buildings are also envisaged, however, in the form of e. g. family-friendly housing and retirement properties. The plans also include a car park with the latest charging facilities for electric vehicles and a daycare centre. „We are also looking at the prospect of a hotel,“ said Prof Schulte-Kemper as he presented the comprehensive plans. The transition should be noticeable by the end of next year, and the aim is to have the entire portfolio leased out by the following year.
Accordingly, reports say that there have already been two major international enquiries regarding the project.
„An experienced investor who wanted to use the entire plot would ensure that the site will be put to good subsequent use. This is our goal as well,“ said Tönjes, referring to the plans. Tönjes stressed that RAG‘s operational activities will remain at the Pluto site in Herne. „A modern control centre for mine water drainage will be based here as well, which is to say we are not pulling out of Herne completely.“
FAKT AG is taking over the whole site and all buildings. At present, there are still 460 RAG employees working at the Herne Shamrockring site. When all the buildings are taken into account, there used to be 1,250 staff here. Of those employees remaining, roughly 240 moved to the new Zollverein site in Essen between mid-October and mid-November. Little by little, the relocation will continue. By 2019, RAG will have withdrawn from its Herne site completely.
Referring to the district, located close to the inner city, a delighted Lord Mayor Dudda said: „This means we are seamlessly picking up where industrial use of the site leaves off. We are dealing with mega-trends like urbanity, digitisation and globality at this location.“ He guaranteed FAKT AG the full support of the city for their plans. FAKT AG has already successfully converted the former headquarters of Ruhrgas and the ThyssenKrupp AG Rheinstahl building in Essen. (RAG/Si.)
