Beyond the city core: spatial drivers of logistics facility location in the e-commerce era

Abstract The rapid expansion of e-commerce is transforming regional logistics systems, driving new spatial configurations in the location of warehouses and distribution centres. This paper investigates the locational determinants of logistics facilities across Spanish municipalities, distinguishing between traditional industrial and retail activities and those linked to e-commerce. Using a comprehensive facility-level dataset and a Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial model, we identify key spatial drivers, including proximity to transport infrastructure, land prices, and metropolitan status. While traditional facilities concentrate around capital cities and high-value areas, e-commerce-related logistics display more decentralised patterns, favouring peripheral zones with lower land costs. By incorporating sectoral differentiation and qualitative validation from industry experts, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of how logistics activities influence regional spatial structures. These findings have clear implications for regional planning, land-use strategies, and the governance of logistics sprawl under the pressures of digital economic change.