Speaker
Description
This paper, integrating practical research on land use control for urban construction projects, aims to offer beneficial references and guidance for planning control in projects of other countries, especially for those adopting a German-style planning system. Germany's planning system has evolved to integrate functional zoning, aiming for sustainable urban development that balances social, economic, and environmental needs. The goal is to utilize land justly and effectively, considering housing demands and public interest, while protecting the environment and fostering climate adaptation.
The core of German development control is to define construction area functions per the Federal Building Code (BauNVO), regulating land and building use to prevent conflicts and ensure orderly growth. Key principles include functional separation, orderly urban landscapes, healthy living conditions, flexibility, legal certainty, and use conflict avoidance.
Technically, Germany adopts a "mixed land categories + building uses" approach. Urban land is divided into major types like residential (W), mixed construction (M), industrial (G), and special areas (S), further split into smaller categories. Each is a functional group of building uses, controlled via permits. Additional restrictions on scale, business type, service targets, and external impacts form a "2+n" control logic.
Germany's zoning method reflects a comprehensive planning concept, balancing development, livability, and sustainability. It encourages functional mix while preventing interference. For instance, mixed areas permit combinations of residential, commercial, and light industrial uses, subject to mixing degrees and scale restrictions. Classification also adapts to different development needs under the same function.
To protect the environment and living conditions while promoting efficiency, restrictions are placed on the negative externalities of different uses. Heavy industry, with significant pollution and noise, is segregated from residential areas, while light industry and commercial activities with lesser interference are permitted in certain zones with specific regulations.
The German development control system is a multi-layered one. Legally, the Building Code (Baugesetzbuch, BauGB) sets the top-level framework. At the planning level, both statutory and non-statutory plans provide spatial regulations. The building permit level ensures project implementation compliance. Different control tools at various stages form an effective hierarchical mechanism.
In practice, cities like Munich, Stuttgart, Hamburg, and Berlin show unique characteristics in land use classification in their land use plans (F-plan, Flaechennutzungsplan) and building plans (B-plan, Bebauungsplan). In addition, there is a non-statutory intermediate framework plan (R-plan, Rahmenplan). The construction permit stage ensures a closed management loop.
Several project cases are analyzed. For example, Munich's Messestadt Riem follows a process from framework planning to construction guidelines. Stuttgart's Schoch area compiles the B-plan based on urban design. Hamburg's Port City adjusts the B-plan and F-plan according to project schemes. Berlin's Potsdamer Platz compiles block-based B-plans in a simplified B-plan context.
In conclusion, Germany's land use control approach provides valuable insights for sustainable urban development, thanks to its evolved system, clear principles, technical methods, and practical experiences.
References
Hansson, A. G. (2017) 'Promoting planning for housing development: what can Sweden learn from Germany', Land Use Policy, 64, pp. 470-478.
Asadzadeh, A., Kötter, T., Fekete, A. et al. (2022) 'Urbanization, migration, and the challenges of resilience thinking in urban planning: insights from two contrasting planning systems in Germany and Iran', Cities, 125, p. 103642.
Monstadt, J. and Meiling, V. (2020) 'Governing Suburbia through regionalized land-use planning? Experiences from the Greater Frankfurt region', Land Use Policy, 91, p. 104300.
| Keywords | Land use control；German planning system；Sustainable urban development；Project cases analysis |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
