Here is everything you need to know about the two industrial parks in the Femern region

Decades of planning and construction work around the Fehmarn connection are now beginning to yield returns in the form of new industrial investments. For the first time, the state is putting a national stamp on the areas where future production will emerge. This means that the Fehmarn region - from Lolland to South Zealand - will play a central role in Denmark's new industrial map. Here, green energy, logistics, and production must be linked together on a large scale.

The Fehmarn corridor will have two major hubs for future production. Out of 11 newly announced locations, two are closely connected to the fixed link to Germany. Rødbyhavn will be Denmark's large-scale port option with direct shipping. Industrial Hub Zealand at Tappernøje/Bårse will be Zealand's motorway-accessible gateway with one of the country's largest accesses to the workforce. Common to them is the Red Carpet scheme: a single authority entry, parallel case processing - and a shorter path from investment decision to construction. 

What is a state industrial park - and why is it important? 

A state industrial park is a designated business area where the municipality and state consolidate authority processes and prioritise large, often green and energy-intensive production projects. Companies receive a “one-point-of-contact” and coordinated case processing, so environmental assessments, local plans, and building permits can run simultaneously instead of consecutively. In the Fehmarn region, it is about linking strong infrastructure and energy supply with significant demand from industry - and converting the momentum of the Fehmarn connection into lasting jobs and investments.

Rødbyhavn: Femern port & industrial park 

Rødbyhavn builds on Europe's largest construction project - the Fehmarn Belt link - and is now set to frame a new era for industry and production on Lolland. The area already has a complete infrastructure with a port, motorway, railway, and strong electricity supplies, including a 150 kV station and double power supply cables, ensuring high capacity and stable power supply to large production facilities.

The upcoming industrial park covers 781 hectares and can be developed gradually as needed. The area is included in the municipal plan framework 360-E56 and can eventually be expanded to the east. Plans include low building density, giving companies ample space for storage, assembly, and transport. At the same time, consideration is given to nature conservation and coastal interests, so development can occur in balance with the surroundings.

Lolland Municipality highlights in its application three central potentials: space for large state infrastructure projects, opportunities for production for the defence and security industry, and capacity for heavy, complex industry in the green transition. There is already significant interest from both Danish and international companies, especially in energy, logistics, and offshore production. 

Lolland has established a reception team that assists companies with everything from planning and building permits to recruitment and settlement of employees. The municipality also highlights specialised job placement, international school offerings, and permanent steering and working groups that can quickly process complex cases through the system in collaboration with Business Lolland-Falster.

However, for Lolland, there is a formal reservation: The final industrial park status awaits clarification on how the tunnel element factory and the work harbour - currently used for the production of the Femern connection's concrete elements - will be utilised once the construction is completed. This is a decision that must be approved by the coalition behind the Femern construction and should be a mere formality.

Industrial Hub Zealand: Næstved/Vordingborg 

Industrial Hub Zealand is a joint project between Næstved and Vordingborg. The total area is 207 hectares, of which 140 hectares are potential building plots, with room for expansion to the east. The planning frameworks aim for high utilisation of the area and allow for technical facilities and buildings up to 30 metres in height.

The area is directly adjacent to the motorway between exits 38 (Tappernøje) and 39 (Bårse) with planned access roads. Three commercial ports are within 40 kilometres, and Kastrup Airport can, according to the application, be reached in about 45 minutes - which probably depends on the time of travel. The area is connected to green gas and local sources of renewable energy such as solar and wind, and efforts are being made to utilise excess heat in an industrial collaboration where companies share energy and resources to reduce waste.

The labour market coverage is regionally strong: 2.1 million people can reach the area within one hour. There is a short distance to vocational education, Campus Køge and international school offerings, and the capital's knowledge and GTS environments - the government-approved technological institutes that help companies develop new technology and translate research into concrete production - are within an hour's drive.

The organisation is built according to the Red Carpet principle, where the municipality and state work together for faster case processing. A joint steering group, joint project group and a single reception apparatus are established across the municipalities. Planning is now underway; the overall plan, environmental assessment and municipal and local plans are expected to be completed by early 2028, with construction preparation from 2028 and occupancy in 2029 or 2030.

Business interest is particularly directed towards green and energy-intensive production, including data centres, recycling and upcycling of materials, as well as the defence industry. 

What distinguishes the two - and what binds them together? 

Rødbyhavn is port-adjacent large-scale with direct access to shipping. The plans accommodate heavy assembly, storage and export. The energy and supply network is dimensioned for large loads, and the municipality has documented specific demand from international players in its application.

Industrial Hub Zealand is a highly accessible hub by the motorway with three ports in the vicinity, a very large labour market catchment area, and a joint municipal organisation built to provide a single point of entry and fast case processing. The timeline is clear, with planning and environmental work aimed at 2026-2028 and occupancy from 2029/30.

The common denominator is strategic infrastructure and green energy - and both parks are conceived as platforms that can trigger large investments in Eastern Denmark with the Fehmarn connection as the engine.

Practical overview - key figures and milestones 

Rødbyhavn: 780 ha; port, railway, motorway; 150 kV station and dual 150 kV cables; phased development via municipal plan framework 360-E56; formal reservation regarding the organisation of the tunnel and port area.

Industrial Hub Zealand: 207 ha (140 ha new building plots); motorway between exits 38 and 39; three commercial ports within 40 km; planning and environmental process 2026-2028; site preparation from 2028; first occupancies 2029/30.

This is how the process will proceed from here 

The designation of the 11 state industrial parks is politically decided, but final approval will only occur when the Ministry of Industry sends a regulation for consultation at the beginning of 2026. Thereafter, municipalities must prepare and adopt the necessary plans for land use, environment, and infrastructure.

At the same time, the Danish Business Authority enters into cooperation agreements with the municipalities and prepares a national planning directive that sets the national framework. Once consultations, planning, and agreements are in place, the municipalities can begin site development - and the industrial parks are formally established by the state.