Urban redevelopment plays an important role in the preservation and future-oriented development of established building structures, in the reduction of urban planning and social deficits and development deficits, as well as in strengthening the urban planning function of town centers. Urban redevelopment is an important part of urban planning and development and part of the special urban development law in the German Building Code (BauGB). The term urban redevelopment focuses on interventions by a municipality in the existing urban fabric in order to secure, restore or redefine the functionality of an area for the benefit of the general public.
City of Aachen
Measures and preparation
Urban redevelopment measures and preparatory studies
Urban redevelopment measures always relate to an area that is clearly defined in terms of parcels of land and which is decided by redevelopment statutes.
Before a redevelopment area is defined, preparatory investigations (VU) must be initiated in accordance with Section 141 of the German Building Code (BauGB) in order to check the feasibility and thus the application of redevelopment law. The implementation of these investigations is based on the assumption that there are urban development deficiencies in an area (suspected deficiency areas). As part of the preparatory investigations, the respective deficiencies are assessed, the willingness of local (private) stakeholders to cooperate is discussed and development prospects and objectives for the area under consideration are drawn up and weighed up against each other.
Once the analysis of the area under investigation has been completed, (individual) measures are drawn up, prioritized and coordinated against the background of preliminary redevelopment and development objectives. To this end, various areas of urban development, including urban development and building refurbishment, services of general interest, mobility and climate, are taken into account and the corresponding measures are then finally summarized in an action plan.
Preparatory studies are always open-ended. Insofar as a redevelopment area can be derived at the end of the VU, the proposed measures must be specified and implemented within a limited implementation period.
Comprehensive or simplified redevelopment measures can be used to implement an urban redevelopment measure.
The comprehensive redevelopment procedure is the standard procedure under the German Building Code for remedying urban development deficiencies. In this case, special redevelopment regulations under sections 152 to 156a apply.
In the simplified procedure, without approval requirements under section 144 BauGB, urban development funds from federal and state sources are generally used.
Andreas Herrmann, © SEGA / Andreas Herrmann
Büchel old town quarter
As part of the "inner city" redevelopment area, a comprehensive redevelopment project has been underway in the Altstadt district since 2022. In addition, new preparatory studies for the area have been underway since the end of 2024.
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steg NRW, © steg NRW
Eastern city center
In order to meet the challenges in the eastern city center, preparatory investigations in accordance with Section 141 of the German Building Code (BauGB) have been carried out since the end of 2021 in a parcel-specific spatial perimeter (investigation area). The preparatory studies are to be completed in the course of 2025 with a final report and political consultation with recommendations on how to proceed.
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Overview
AGIS GmbH, © City of Aachen
Redevelopment areas in the simplified redevelopment procedure
Urban renewal measures in the redevelopment areas in the simplified procedure are implemented with the help of urban development funding. The individual areas are presented below.
The construction initiative of private actors can also be claimed for tax purposes if applicable. Further information on this can be found below.
City center concept 2022
The "inner city" redevelopment area (simplified procedure) with the main railway station and Burtscheid, together with the Integrated Urban Development Concept (ISEK) Inner City Concept 2022, provides the basis for applying for urban development funding from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Since 2015, the city of Aachen has been implementing a wide range of measures to make the area more attractive with the support of urban development funding. The funding framework ends with the implementation of Theaterplatz. The revocation of the statutes is being sought in this context.
Based on the catalog of actions of the 2022 city centre concept, numerous preliminary studies and concepts have been drawn up since 2015 and measures implemented within this framework: including the premium footpaths as an attractive network of footpaths, the visualization of Aachen's streams or the development of a perspective for the Burtscheid spa location. Projects such as the conversion of Krämerstraße or the courtyard are some of the projects already implemented as part of the 2022 city center concept, which were supported by urban development funds.Aachen North
The "Socially Integrative City Aachen North" funding program ended in 2021 and the final measures from this program are currently being implemented, including the redesign of Europaplatz and Talstrasse and Scheibenstrasse.
Fire
In the context of the Brand master plan, important projects for the attractiveness of the district were implemented, including the redesign of the market square in Aachen-Brand, the construction of the new gymnasium at the market school and the widening of the Vennbahn tracks. The Brand area is considered to be finished. The last project, the "Pocket Park" on the Vennbahntrasse, is in the final stages of implementation.
Beverau
In the "Beverau" area, there is a particular focus on encounters in the neighborhood and the initiative of local people. The "Gut Branderhof" has already been converted into a neighborhood and meeting center and a neighborhood square at the estate has been redesigned. In addition, a disposition fund has been set up for the district.
Hair
Based on the Haaren integrated action plan adopted in 2013, a wide range of measures are being implemented to improve the quality of open spaces and public places. These include the projects: "Around St. Germanus", "Park at the old cemetery" and the conversion of the Wurm and Haarbach floodplains.