Union Investment begins conversion of Rheinpark Centre in Neuss into mixed-use health and retail hub

Union Investment has launched the transformation of the Rheinpark Centre in Neuss, aiming to integrate healthcare services into the existing shopping environment. The project involves the conversion of approximately 11,500 square metres of retail space on the first floor into a health centre featuring doctors’ surgeries and other medical services.

The redevelopment, branded as the “Mall of Life,” is expected to take place over the next two years, with completion planned for early 2027. The goal is to create a mixed-use environment that combines healthcare with retail, offering visitors more reasons to use the space while improving the overall appeal of the centre.

Planning approval for the project was granted in summer 2024, and initial construction work has already begun. About half of the new medical space has already been leased, and discussions are ongoing with additional prospective tenants.

The total investment in the repositioning amounts to approximately €50 million and is being financed through Union Investment’s open-ended real estate fund UniImmo: Europa. The broader centre, which opened in 2010, offers a total of 48,000 square metres of leasable space.

As part of the renovation, architectural improvements such as atriums for natural lighting and green roofing are being implemented. Lounge areas will also be introduced to enhance the quality of the interior environment.

On the retail side, key tenants including Aldi, MediaMarkt, and dm have signed new long-term leases for ground-floor space, enabling the release of the first-floor area for the health centre. Their relocation is scheduled for completion by mid-2025. Retail operations will continue throughout the redevelopment in two stages.

According to Union Investment project manager Norman Naehrig, the Neuss site and its regional catchment of approximately 640,000 people provide a strong foundation for this pilot concept, which aims to serve as a model for other locations.