Dutch construction company Volker Wessels and Shanghai Construction Group have set up a 50-50 joint venture to develop the European China Centre in Rotterdam. The 100,000 m[sup]2[/sup] mixed-use complex is expected to cost around EUR 300mln and is due for competion in 2011.

Dutch construction company Volker Wessels and Shanghai Construction Group have set up a 50-50 joint venture to develop the European China Centre in Rotterdam. The 100,000 m2 mixed-use complex is expected to cost around EUR 300mln and is due for competion in 2011.

The Chinese company's involvement in the project will be purely financial, with Volker Wessels taking responsibility for the construction. The first phase of the project, due to start in the first quarter of 2009, will comprise 36,000 m2 and is expected to cost EUR 100mln. The first tenants will be Chinese retailers, a large Chinese supermarket and possibly a 120-room hotel.