Functional changes of the Western Industrial Park and its surroundings in Debrecen

Abstract

The economic restructuring (deindustrialization) after the change of regime resulted in extensive underused industrial areas also in Debrecen, the second largest city of Hungary. They show different evolution dynamics depending on the judgement of their broader environment as economic location. The development of these brownfield areas is especially interesting at the western and southern edge of the city, where the most important greenfield investments (Northwestern Economic Belt, Debrecen Science Park, Debrecen Regional and Innovation Industrial Park, Southern Industrial Park) next to the motorway and the airport were carried out. Our article examines the functional change of the area, where the concrete panel factory for prefabricated houses was formerly located, and its surroundings. The work is based on field research as well as on collection, analysis and cartographic visualisation of enterprise data. As result, the renewal of economic functions and the predominant role of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises can be emphasized. Regarding the internal structure of the economic zone we can identify also the influence of the former activities, enterprises functioning there before the change of regime.