ABSTRACT
The growing role of logistics in the economic space of large metropolises is visible in an increasing number of objects of this kind as well as in their high spatial concentration. Taking into account these circumstances, a phenomenon known as ‘logistics sprawl’ is considered in the article. This is one of two problems concerning the development of logistics in metropolitan areas. Studying the Katowice conurbation in Poland, the authors note, however, that in this region the opposite phenomenon, which they define as a ‘logistics anti-sprawl’, is more noticable. Its characteristic feature is a location of logistics facilities not in the outer zone of the conurbation, but in its core. This phenomenon undoubtedly differs from the patterns of localization of logistics facilities in all major CEECs. It is caused by some chief factors which are disscused in the paper. Therefore, an attention is drawn on the period of socialist development of the region, its contemporary postindustrialism, urban shrinkage, as well as the polycentricity of the conurbation. The crucial question whether the expected reduction of the ‘sprawl logistics’ phenomenon may be based on the development model observed in the Katowice conurbation is also discussed in the article.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
ORCID
Robert Krzysztofik http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1433-0866
Iwona Kantor-Pietraga http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2067-5438
Tomasz Spórna http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1099-7196
Weronika Dragan http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1531-2464
Valentin Mihaylov http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5888-6583
Notes
1 Polycentricity in the Katowice conurbation raises many other economic, planning, demographic or political and financial problems, which are not mentioned in the article on account of the subject constraints.