Braunschweig
Braunschweig's two districts face bold redevelopment under new federal funding
Braunschweig. Two distinct urban districts are set to receive further development through federal urban funding programs, according to a proposal by the city administration. For the Großer Hof in the city center, officials plan to apply for grants under the "Growth and Sustainable Renewal" initiative. Meanwhile, the Emsviertel in the western district is slated to benefit from the "Social Cohesion" funding scheme. The city administration has submitted the corresponding resolutions for review by the relevant committees, with the city council scheduled to vote on May 12, as announced in a statement released today.
"We are expanding our urban development efforts and turning our attention to the Großer Hof area in the city center to create new focal points there," explained Lord Mayor Dr. Thorsten Kornblum. "The residential and creative quarter at Großer Hof represents another key element of Braunschweig's strategy to revitalize the city center and strengthen its role as a hub for education and work. In the Emsviertel, we aim to continue the successful urban development projects that have been driving progress in the western district. As a municipality, we cannot fund such extensive, long-term initiatives alone. That's why, together with colleagues from other cities, I have advocated at the federal level for increased urban development funding."
Funding for Emsviertel
The federal government has pledged in its coalition agreement to double funding over the current legislative period. The state of Lower Saxony has confirmed it will support the gradual increase in the next fiscal year.
The city council had already approved, in principle, the administration's proposal last year to include the Emsviertel in urban development funding. The new grants are intended to build on the existing "Social City" program, which has already enabled—and continues to enable—a range of projects in neighboring areas.
Developed primarily in the 1970s as part of the western district, the Emsviertel remains shaped by the urban planning principles of its time: car-centric design, functional segregation, industrial-style architecture, and ample green spaces. With 4,735 residents, the neighborhood is densely populated. Between 2015 and 2024, its population grew by roughly 5.5%, largely due to the accommodation of refugees. The area has a relatively young demographic, with 74.4% of residents having a migrant background. At the same time, it faces significant social challenges, including high unemployment and a large proportion of welfare recipients. The district is thus characterized by a diverse mix of social, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
Development Prospects for Emsviertel
The development goals address these conditions through an integrated approach, combining social, urban planning, ecological, and procedural measures. While the eastern residential blocks of the Emsviertel have already undergone comprehensive renovation, the western and southern sections exhibit substantial structural and urban planning deficiencies. Buildings require modernization, public spaces need upgrading, and social infrastructure demands reinforcement. However, positive experiences in adjacent areas such as Ilmweg and Donauviertel demonstrate that urban development funding instruments have proven effective and sustainable in the western district. Against this backdrop, there are excellent prospects for successfully guiding the Emsviertel's development while simultaneously strengthening the long-term progress of the entire western district.
Großer Hof as a New Residential and Creative Quarter
The Existing Development in the "Großer Hof" District
Most of the buildings in the Großer Hof district date back to the postwar years, forming a patchwork of varied structures and uses. Reconstruction followed the historic urban layout, though the small-scale parcel structure was abandoned in favor of a modern, understated multi-story design. Despite limited urban development in recent decades, the area around Großer Hof has evolved into a distinct neighborhood with a diverse mix of residential, cultural, religious, social, and educational institutions, as well as commercial, retail, hospitality, and service businesses. However, challenges remain: the former sites of the Helene-Engelbrecht and Kielhorn schools have been vacated, and the district is heavily dominated by parked vehicles.
The 2024 Wohn- und Kreativquartier Großer Hof (Residential and Creative Quarter Großer Hof) implementation competition already established key planning principles for necessary structural changes. The vision is to transform the roughly 2.5-hectare site into an attractive new district, incorporating urban living across all segments, spaces for the creative economy, an exhibition gallery, and social infrastructure such as a daycare center. As part of the urban development funding program, the surrounding northern inner-city area—spanning a total of nine hectares—will also be further developed.
Key Term: Urban Development Funding
Two-thirds of the costs for funded projects are covered by federal and state governments, meaning that with the city's one-third contribution, far-reaching improvements can be achieved in the district. Experience shows that property owners and local initiatives actively support applications for urban development funding and generally engage cooperatively in neighborhood development. Statistically, every euro invested in urban development funding leverages an additional seven euros in private investment.
Urban development funding has existed since 1971 as an investment program supporting a wide range of construction measures. In Braunschweig, several areas have already benefited, including Frankfurter Straße, parts of the city center, the Bahnhofsviertel (railway station district), and Ilmweg. Current projects under implementation include:
- "Soziale Stadt – Westliches Ringgebiet" (Social City – Western Ring District) (until mid-2027, under the Social Cohesion funding program).
- "Soziale Stadt – Donauviertel" (Social City – Danube District) (until late 2034, under the Social Cohesion funding program).
- "Bahnstadt" (Railway City) (until late 2037, under the Growth and Sustainable Renewal funding program).
- "Campus Donauviertel" (until mid-2026, under the Investment Pact for Social Integration in the Neighborhood program).
