"Milestone" for the "Papieri-Areal" in Bieberist
The revitalization project of HIAG Immobilien AG in Biberist (SO) is one step further: A framework building permit should make settlements on the "Papieri-Areal" easier.
A milestone has been reached" with the framework building permit, according to the economic development agency of the canton of Solothurn: The approval by the municipality of Biberist of a framework building application submitted a year ago for transitional uses on the site of the Sappi paper mill, which closed in 2011 and is known as the "Papieri site", will "massively facilitate" the settlement of companies.
Until now, a building or conversion application had to be submitted for all interim users, which is now no longer necessary for the settlement of interim uses within the framework mentioned, according to HIAG Immobilien AG, which acquired the site including the largely vacant buildings of the former paper mill in 2012. This means that the existing buildings could be used for storage purposes, for example. According to the outline building permit, uses that do not require any significant structural adjustments to the buildings and halls are eligible. According to HIAG, the use will be located in a suitable existing building. Furthermore, a traffic quota has been defined for the entire site, which is based on its former use as a paper mill.
Currently, two companies are located on the huge "Papieri-Areal": the logistics group Sieber from Eastern Switzerland (since 2013), which relies on the Biberist site for the long term in order to supply the Mittelland region from there, and Acin AG (2012), which handles the storage and distribution of shoes, textiles and sporting goods, among other things, for Internet stores.
According to HIAG Immobilien, it is not yet foreseeable whether further companies will definitely settle in the current year due to the new situation. Talks with interested parties are "ongoing". (bw)
