• Residential, commercial, office and production in direct coexistence. Leisure facilities - for example for sport - are also intended to provide additional appeal.
• City of Aachen invites citizens to get involved in the development plan process from October 25 to November 26. Information event on October 28 at the Nadelfabrik.
• The Landmarken Group's project is an important building block in the structural change process that the traditional industrial location in the east of Aachen is undergoing.

The working world of tomorrow is to be created on one of Aachen's most traditional industrial sites in the Rothe Erde district: The site of the former automotive supplier Hutchinson. The Landmarken Group, which has acquired both the former Conti site and this area, is planning a model location for urban production there. The City of Aachen is providing intensive support for this development, initially as part of an urban planning workshop process and now in the development plan process. The City of Aachen will soon be launching the early public participation phase for the approximately three-hectare area of the former Hutchinson site as part of the development plan process.

A mix of commercial, leisure and service facilities is to be created between Freunder Weg, Zeppelinstraße and Eisenbahnweg. (Publicly subsidized) apartments are also to be built. A so-called "activity hub" promises attractive sports and leisure facilities on site. However, the main focus at this point is on creating urgently needed commercial space. This is also provided for in the AACHEN*2030 land use plan of the city of Aachen (FNP), on the basis of which the "Freunder Weg / Zeppelinstraße" development plan is now being drawn up.

How citizens can get involved

The early public participation period runs from Friday, October 25 to Tuesday, November 26. The administration will provide information on the objectives and purposes as well as the likely effects of the planning on the central internet portal of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia at www.beteiligung.nrw.de and also at beteiligung.aachen.de. The documents will be on public display in the foyer of the Am Marschiertor administration building at Lagerhausstraße 20 during the same period. They can be viewed Mondays to Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays until 3 p.m.

The city is also offering a hearing on Monday, October 28, 6 to 7.30 pm, in the foyer of the Nadelfabrik, Reichsweg 30. Citizens can submit comments on the planning by November 26 by email to bebauungsplan@mail.aachen.de, in writing or verbally for the record to the Department of Urban Development and Planning, Lagerhausstraße 20, 52064 Aachen.

Public participation for the first amendment to development plan no. 593 "Hünefeldstraße / Hickelweg" is running in parallel. The nearby area between Hünefeldstraße, Hickelweg and Madrider Ring includes the so-called Thouet property. This is also to be developed in line with the times so that the area is more effectively available for commercial use in future. An amendment to the existing development plan is necessary here. The plans will be issued at the same time and in the same place. The public hearing on October 28 will also deal with development plan no. 593.

Hutchinson site: how the planning process has gone so far

In 2022, the area was the subject of a student competition. The ideas from the competition were then incorporated into an urban planning concept, which was drawn up by Cologne-based Molestina Architekten + Stadtplaner. In autumn 2023, the Aachen design committee looked at the design status for the first time and provided advice and suggestions for optimization. This ensured at an early stage that the existing surroundings and the new district would be well connected. A workshop with representatives of the administration, the planning office, the investors and other experts followed before the project was presented and discussed in the City of Aachen's planning committee.

Information on development plan procedures

Further information and contact addresses can also be found on the Internet at www.aachen.de/bauleitplanung. You can also subscribe to the "Urban land-use planning" newsletter there to keep up to date with the City of Aachen's current land-use planning procedures.