Press releases

• The city of Aachen and the German Armed Forces have agreed to look for alternative locations.
• The city had rejected plans to expand the barracks on Beverau.
  
  

The German Armed Forces have signaled their willingness to work with the city of Aachen to seek alternative locations for the expansion of the Dr. Leo Löwenstein Barracks. Mayor Dr. Michael Ziemons expressly welcomes this development: “This is good news for Aachen and for the Beverau district. We want the Army Technical School to be able to grow. But we don’t have to sacrifice our most valuable open spaces and one of our city’s key climate systems to do so. The fact that the Bundeswehr is now willing to work with us to find alternatives sends an important signal. I’m pleased that we have the opportunity to achieve both: a strong Bundeswehr and a city worth living in.”

The basis for the discussions is the city’s statement regarding the planned use of approximately 27.8 hectares north of the existing barracks. During the public hearing process under the Land Acquisition Act, the city had rejected the expansion at this location, citing significant conflicts with climate, environmental, and nature conservation, local recreation, traffic, and the water balance.

Valuable Open Space for the Urban Climate and Nature
Agricultural lands are of great ecological and urban climatic importance. Large portions of this land lie within a ventilation corridor designated in the Aachen*2030 Land Use Plan and are part of a cold-air system that relieves pressure on adjacent and lower-lying neighborhoods. Development and soil sealing would impair cold-air formation and air exchange—with potential consequences for the climate and quality of life in Beverau, Forst, as well as in the Frankenberg and Ostviertel districts.

“The Beverau is one of Aachen’s climate systems,” said Ziemons. Soil and nature conservation, as well as the water cycle, would also be significantly affected. The areas contain soils worthy of protection and serve important climate functions. In addition, the city sees risks related to groundwater, flooding, and heavy rainfall.

Conflict with Existing Plans and Loss of Recreational Areas
The expansion conflicts with municipal and regional plans: The regional plan designates these areas as a regional green corridor and as an area for the protection of the landscape and landscape-oriented recreation. The Aachen*2030 Land Use Plan designates them as agricultural lands with a special urban climate function. Even when the plan was revised, these areas were not designated as building sites due to their significant impacts on the landscape, soil, water, nature, and climate. The city therefore considers its municipal planning authority to be affected.

At the same time, these areas serve as important recreational spaces close to residential areas for walking, biking, and experiencing nature. The expansion could significantly restrict access to the countryside. The city therefore calls for the permanent preservation of existing trail networks. This includes the historically documented public “donkey trail” between Lintert, Driescher Hof, Burtscheid, Beverau, and the Frankenberg neighborhood.

Traffic and Drainage as Additional Obstacles
: Even today, the Kornelimünsterweg/Adenauerallee/Karl-Marx-Allee intersection is already experiencing significant congestion and traffic backups. Additional jobs and training opportunities, as well as potential new access roads, would exacerbate the situation. Kornelimünsterweg is also only marginally suitable for a sustained increase in heavy military transport.

According to current estimates, the sewer system does not have sufficient capacity to handle the additional stormwater runoff. Extensive retention and treatment facilities would be required. In addition, there are water management risks for the Beverbach and the Wurm river system.

City and the German Armed Forces Plan to Explore
Alternatives The city had therefore suggested exploring suitable publicly owned land in other locations as alternative sites. The goal is to enable the further development of the German Armed Forces base while also protecting the Beverau River and its important climate and environmental functions.

Ziemons emphasizes: “I stand by the Bundeswehr. The Army Technical School belongs in Aachen, and it must be able to continue to develop. The key is to find a suitable location for it. I am confident that together we can find a solution that meets the Bundeswehr’s requirements while also protecting Beverau.”