EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Stadt 2030

Stadt 2030 - Leipzig , Germany

Introduction

In the Stadt 2030 research programme towns and cities are invited to carry out research into particular problems with which they are faced. The City of Leipzig sought answers to the question how to prevent further urban depopulation and how to attract young people back to the city centre.

Problem

How to avoid a 'doughnut city'; an empty city centre surrounded by highly populated suburbs?
How to make the city more attractive to young people and families?

Description

The federal ministry of education and research, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, and Difu have together established a programme of research entitled Stadt 2030. Leipzig is concentrating on a problem typical of the east of the country: urban depopulation. Leipzig wants to return to a strong and compact city centre.

Approach

In the Stadt 2030 research programme towns and cities are invited to carry out research into particular problems with which they are faced. The research is aimed at finding solutions that can be put into effect in the town or city itself.

Leipzig is concentrating on a problem typical of the east of the country: urban depopulation. If nothing is done to stop it, in the decades to come the city's population will see a decline of twenty per cent. During the seventies and eighties there was a spate of construction on the edges of the city. However, due to a shortage of jobs, many (mainly younger) people have now moved to the west. Those who have stayed in Leipzig are moving to the suburbs and as a result the city centre is emptying and becoming uninhabitable.

Results

The projects could be followed through a website at www.stadt2030.de, where each town or city has its own domain name, e.g. www.Leipzig2030.de. The projects have now been completed and the programme is currently being evaluated.
Residents are as far as possible being involved in the plans for a better city centre through public consultation and public debates open to all.
To meet the demands of young people, Leipzig is refurbishing old housing stock. The former lignite mining sites and associated labourers' homes are being demolished and replaced by high-rise developments, leaving enough room for green belts yet maintaining levels of available housing. People wishing to live in the centre are encouraged to do so. Banning cars from the city centre and making parking more expensive will give Leipzig a physically attractive core.
The Leipzig region is working on reinforcing its competitive strength. Particular attention is being paid to catching up with the regions of the west. The city is looking for more and better jobs, especially for young people. University courses must be better attuned to the opportunities offered by the regional economy.
Leipzig is pursuing an active family policy, making the city child-friendly with playgrounds and parks, and aiming to provide free daytime childcare. Talks on this are under way with a number of potential partners.
The city has taken on board the experiences of Barcelona and Manchester, both of which are familiar with the problems of the doughnut city.

Contact info

Leipzig 2030
Germany
info@leipzig2030.de

Project start date

14/04/2004

Links

Leipzig 2030 Stadt 2030

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Urban environment

Keywords

Urban renewal