Feps, a German defence, logistics, and infrastructure solutions company, plans to build a 4,000-unit housing complex called German Village in Lithuania for German soldiers stationed in the Baltic country.
Rachid Aichi, a managing partner of Feps Lithuania, told BNS that the exact location of the project has not yet been decided. The company is focusing on the area between Vilnius and the Rūdninkai military base, as well as the areas around Rukla in Jonava District that also houses German and NATO troops.
"The project is planned as an independent residential complex with all the necessary infrastructure and green spaces, conveniently accessible to both Rūdninkai and Vilnius. [...] The residential spaces are being designed and built primarily for German soldiers, but also for all other interested parties," he told BNS.
The project could cost "several hundred million euros," Aichi said. Asked who commissioned the project, he assured that it's a private initiative.
The project will include apartments, detached houses, and officers' residences, Aichi said.
"The living quarters are designed in accordance with German guidelines applicable to soldiers stationed abroad and their immediate family members. Depending on their personal situation – single, married without children, married with children, officer rank, and so on – each soldier is entitled to a certain standard of living and conditions," he added.
According to Aichi, the project will be developed in stages, with the construction of the first apartment buildings possibly starting in the second half of this year.
Vilnius District Municipality confirmed to BNS that a meeting with representatives of Feps Lithuania took place in December last year, during which project development proposals were presented to the company.
"The investors emphasized that the speed of project implementation is particularly important to them. [...] This approach [by purchasing private plots] allows investors to avoid lengthy state land lease or sale procedures and significantly shorten the time to the start of construction," the municipality said.
According to BNS sources, Feps representatives were briefed by the Vilnius municipality on a project for six apartment buildings planned to be built on Šiltnamių Street in Pagiriai. However, the area would likely be too small for the planned housing project for German soldiers.
German brigade – next year
Berlin plans to deploy a brigade of 4,000 to 5,000 soldiers in Lithuania by the end of 2027. Most of the brigade will be stationed at the Rūdninkai training area, while Germany plans to deploy engineering and reconnaissance units in Rukla.
Lithuania is now building the Rūdninkai base to host the German brigade. It is being developed in stages, with the first part to be completed later this year.
The second stage is being developed through a public-private partnership and is divided into three parts. The Defence Ministry is scheduled to sign contracts with the winning contractors in the near future.
Feps was founded in Germany in 1996 and has been operating in Lithuania since 2017. The company previously built a shooting range, tactical driving tracks for vehicles and motorcycles, and a helicopter and explosives training area at the Rukla training grounds.
It is also the main contractor for the Šiauliai military airport terminal project.
The military facility, covering an area of almost 5,500 square meters, will serve personnel arriving at and departing from the air base in Šiauliai and will facilitate the transport of various military cargo.
The construction of the terminal is set to be completed early this year.
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