Citizens' protest on the Neubrück Ring: Building plans provide excitement!
Citizens' protest on the Neubrück Ring: Building plans provide excitement!
Ostheim, Deutschland - On July 11, 2025, a lively citizens' event for public participation took place in the Ostheim school center on the controversial construction projects on the Neubrücker Ring and Rather See. The high number of participants ensured that all chairs were occupied; Many citizens: inside had to settle on stairs, which reflected the excited and chaotic mood. Interreptions and laughter reinforced the room when the head of the city planning office, Eva Herr, tried to open the meeting, but was repeatedly interrupted by those present.
The conversion of 16.3 hectares of former Madaus Gardenland to an urban neighborhood is planned to build 850 apartments as well as two daycare centers, public green spaces and playgrounds. But the criticism of the citizens was: inside. Many called for a discussion about the "whether" and not just about the "how" of the project. Residents are particularly concerned about the sealing of green areas, the lack of infrastructure in Neubrück and the inadequate connection to traffic, especially on Rösrather Straße and the Neubrücker Ring, where an increase in traffic is feared by 20-30 %. These developments are in the shade of the fact that over 1.6 million square meters of green spaces in the region are under the pressure of investors and municipal companies, such as the "Cologne" initiative actively criticized. This has already collected over 3,300 signatures for the petition to maintain the fields. Districts such as Rath-Heumar, Neubrück and Altbrück, which still have a village character, are particularly affected by the plans and could significantly lose quality of life through the new development areas.natural resources under pressure
The planned construction projects are not only an issue for residents; You could also endanger the fresh air supply for Cologne-Ost. Critics warn that the sealed area of 300,000 m² could reduce the nightly cooling by up to 2 ° C, which has a negative impact on the local climate. This is accompanied by concerns about the biological diversity, since the areas show important CO₂ storage and retreats for endangered species. Citizens: Inside, pointed out that over 80 % of residents regularly use the fields for leisure activities and that the planned new buildings further endanger the city's last green lungs.
In response to the citizens' inquiries and concerns, Daniel Delbrück from GAG emphasized that one wants to be open to the ideas of the citizens. He also referred to the necessary reports as part of the development plan procedure, which is already in full swing. A central concern of the planned project is to create a car -free neighborhood with underground garage parking spaces, where 30 % of the area are sealed and 70 % are to be available for new green areas. A citizen was positive about the planned senior flat shared shared apartments, which shows that not all residents see the plans exclusively.
participation and resistance rely on transparency
While the city of Cologne tries to provide at least 30 % subsidized living space in Neubrück through cooperative building land models, there are still considerable concerns about the transparency of the processes. The early public participation already began, but it was criticized because many residents feel that they were not sufficiently informed. The possibility of comments on the construction projects ended on July 23, which remains the people in the region to hear themselves.
In view of all of these factors,City development must be made clear: Interior, the needs of the citizens: inside, the preservation of green spaces and the need for living space. Sustainable urban development requires interdisciplinary thinking that takes into account the social, economic and ecological requirements. While there is pressure on the one hand to open up new areas for living space, the need for nature and recreation rooms is not negotiable on the other. In view of the challenges that have increased in recent years, it will be decisive how the city of Cologne will react to the needs of its citizens:
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Ort | Ostheim, Deutschland |
| Quellen | |