Content and Process
The INSEK Integrated Urban Development Concept for Leipzig 2030 defines a multidisciplinary Urban Development Strategy for Leipzig. It contains aims and Priority Fields of Action forthe whole city and specifically for all parts of Leipzig. They are compiled on the basis of sectoral planning, as specific urban development plans and other sectoral plans. The Urban Development Concept is also a requirement for seeking funding from the German government, the government of Saxony and the European Union. The Urban Development Concept is an important basis for:
- The strategic orientation of municipal action
- The integrated, multidisciplinary work of the local administration
- The district concepts in Priority Areas
- Applications for urban development funding
Content and structure
The Urban Development Concept is made up of the following parts:
The foundations include the descriptions of the basicparameters and the results of public participation as well as the working process and the INSEK structure.
Sectoral Concepts combine individual fields of administration and condense them to their main inferences for urban development. Cross-Cutting Issues describe multidisciplinary challenges stemming from Leipzig's growth as well as from social and global trends.
The Urban Development Strategy underpins the Vision with a spatially nuanced strategy made up of Priority Areas and district assessments.
The Strategic Vision summarizes the basic principles as well as the goals for the city as a whole and Priority Fields of Action for Leipzig's urban development.
By adopting this structure, the INSEK Integrated Urban Development Concept for Leipzig 2030 builds on the Urban Development Concept for Leipzig 2020 published in 2009 since it retains the basic parameters, Sectoral Concepts and the Urban Development Strategy as key modules. Accordingly, it still complies with the structure specified by the government of Saxony.
However, INSEK Leipzig 2030 has been modified as follows:
- Important multidisciplinary topics have been included as Cross-Cutting Issues.
- The section on the basic parameters has been broadened to include other areas.
- An additional Sectoral Concept (Public Order and Safety Infrastructure) has been drawn up while three key documents all written since 2009 (the two Sectoral Plans Climate Change Mitigationand Technical Infrastructure, and Institutions of Higher Education and Research Institutes, as well as the section on brownfield revitalization) have also been included.
- The structure of INSEK Leipzig 2030 has been revised by setting out the strategic conclusions (which are based on the inferences from the Sectoral Plans, Cross-Cutting Issues and basic parameters) at the beginning by way of emphasis.
Process and participation
INSEK Leipzig 2030 is the result of an intensive multidisciplinary, multi-stakeholder process supported by the high level of dedication and cooperation of all the participants.
From mid-2015 until the end of 2017, the Urban Development Concept was updated by various inter-departmental working groups within the local administration. Debate regarding the Strategic Goals was shaped by the Mayor, Deputy Mayors and Heads of Offices. Overall coordination rested with the City Planning Office, which was supported by specialist offices, particularly when it came to producing the Sectoral Concepts.
At important points in the proceedings, there were various opportunities for residents of Leipzig to get involved, including the public launch, thematic workshops, local debates, and the public presentation of the draft. Depending on the format, either the community at large or alternatively local politicians, representatives of business and research, and other stakeholders were invited to attend. After each participatory event, the findings were examined and incorporated into the latest version of the Urban Development Concept by the various working groups. Public participation was structured by Leipzig Thinking Ahead the City of Leipzig's coordination centre for public participation.
Assessment phase (2015)
Starting in summer 2015, the Urban Development Concept adopted in 2009 was reviewed with regard to its impact and need for revision. This was partly done during workshops in the relevant administrative departments. Furthermore, interviews were conducted with representatives of the top tier of the local administration, all the political groups on Leipzig City Council, the direct service companies and the community. The resulting conclusions were summarized, and the City Council was notified of them in early 2016. These conclusions also formed the basis for the structuring and content of the INSEK Integrated Urban Development Concept for Leipzig 2030. It was at this time that the section Background was drafted, which sets out the main developments for the various thematic areas of the Urban Development Concept.
Core work phase (2016-2017)
The core work phase began with a public kick-off event on 20 November 2015 at Kongresshalle, a venue near Leipzig Zoo. The aim was to poll the opinions and wishes of residents for Leipzig's development over the next fifteen years before the concept was drafted.
The 260 participants of all ages declared the following topics to be especially important: transport and mobility, the preservation of open spaces in contrast to the need for new buildings, integration, equity of opportunities and social mobility, as well as a functioning economy with an attractive jobs market. One visible result was the production of an 'image of the future'.
From early 2016 to May 2017, those involved worked hard on the individual sections of the Urban Development Concept. This involved continuous strategic coordination with the direct service companies. The results and status of the Sectoral Plans were publicly discussed in 2016 at various events. Five workshops were held where important future issues were examined with invited representatives and actors. In November and December 2016, four district forums provided an opportunity to discuss what the city's growth implied for individual districts of Leipzig and what Priority Fields of Action should accordinglybe defined.
Draft phase (2017-2018)
After the results of work and public debate had been collated to create the draft Urban Development Concept, intensive political and public discussion of the draft began in late August 2017 and continued until late November 2017. This draft phase began with a public event on 24 August 2017 attended by 250 residents in the New Town Hall. Parallel to this, two exhibitions were held setting out the main aspects of the draft Urban Development Concept at Leipzig Central Station and in the public library, and information was also published online.
Neighbouring municipalities and public agencies were invited to give written statements regarding the Urban Development Concept. In addition, the draft was presented on request at events hosted by various groups of stakeholders and in the plan's Priority Areas.
As far as Leipzig City Council was concerned, readings of the draft took place in the relevant specialist committees. It was also discussed by committees in local districts and neighbourhoods. Moreover, the draft Urban Development Concept was discussed by a temporary working group made up of representatives of each political group on the city council.
Although most of the proposals and discussion results addressed mobility issues, action responding to Leipzig's growth was also questioned. Attention was paid to the environmental angle of sustainability and, given the uncertainty affecting growth, the adaptability of urban structures.The INSEK Integrated Urban Development Concept for Leipzig 2030 was adopted by Leipzig City Council on 31 May 2018.
Process Overview
Kick-off event on 20 November 2015
1th expert talk on 5. April 2015
2nd expert talk on 20. June
3nd expert talk on 20. June
Urban District Discussion
Presentation of Proposal on 24 August 2017
Exhibition of Proposal from 25 August to 2 December 2017
On 20 November 2015, around 260 Leipzig residents participated in a discussion in the Kongresshalle am Zoo about which topics will play a particularly important role in the future development of the City of Leipzig. In attendance were Mayor Burkhard Jung, city planner Julian Petrin and two illustrators, who were present to document the results of the discussion. The event was the prelude to a multi-stage participation process that supported the redesign of the Integrated Urban Development Concept.
Leipzig - A Home for Everyone? Challenges to living together in our growing city
On 5 April, around 130 Leipzig citizens discussed integration and open-mindedness, as well as hostility to democracy and current tendencies towards radicalisation, in an expanded expert discussion in the Kongresshalle am Zoo.
Leipzig is sustainably growing - Medium-sized businesses are growing with it!
On 20 June approximately 30 experts from companies, trade associations and public administration discussed what the growth of the city means for Leipzig's economy. The focus of the discussion were the questions about how the current economic development can be sustained and how the inner-city industrial areas can be further developed.
Leipzig is sustainably growing - How can Inner City Dual Development succeed?
On August 15, the third expert discussion on the topic of 'Inner City Dual Development' took place. This involved a strategy that combines the desired urban development density with the further improvement of environmental and living conditions in the city.
What does the challenge mean in concrete terms for our urban districts? What are the various key issues for each of the districts? In autumn 2016, these and other questions were examined with representatives from district advisory councils, civic and local associations as well as business and civil societies from the various districts. A total of 220 people took part.
On 24 August 2019, an event in the New Town Hall's ballroom kicked off the public discussion on the proposed Integrated Urban Development Concept 'Leipzig 2030'. Approximately 250 Leipzig citizens took the opportunity to discuss the concept with the city administration, provide their comments and give suggestions.
The cornerstones of the proposal were presented at a four-week exhibition along Ladenstraße at the main station and for three months in the Leipzig City Library's foyer at Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz.