In a surprise development, Brno officials on Tuesday rejected Amazon’s bid to build a 100,000 sqm warehouse in the city’s Černovická industrial zone. This is the third and most likely the last time the Brno assembly will vote on the matter. Not even the project’s two strongest supporters, Brno Mayor Roman Onderka and Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, believe negotiations can continue. Remon Vos, head of CTP, which was expected to build the Brno warehouse, declined to comment on further options.
Brno deputies criticized the developer for starting groundwork on the plot which it has not yet purchased from the city as the plot’s zoning changes have also not been approved. Amazon planned to invest CZK 2.7bn in Brno and create 1,500 new jobs. CTP had agreed to pay the city an additional CZK 300m for the plot as well as for the land needed to build an exit from D1 to the zone to help ease traffic congestion.
