Nürtinger Bahnstadt: New momentum for urgently needed housing projects!

Nürtinger Bahnstadt: New momentum for urgently needed housing projects!

Progress on the Nürtinger Bahnstadt construction project is getting closer after the Railway Act was changed again. This change, which was approved with the votes of the governing coalition of CDU/CSU and SPD, brings new hope for the urgently needed housing projects in the region. Nürtingen's Bundestag member Nils Schmid explained that the adjustment of the law would enable the municipalities' important housing projects to continue. The projects in Nürtingen, especially the Eastern Bahnstadt, and in Stuttgart are particularly affected. NTZ reports.

However, there are still significant legal hurdles that are hindering the progress of the IBA’27 project in Nürtingen. The federal government has once again not adapted the General Railway Act (AEG), which prevents the tendering of building sites for this important living space. It is therefore unclear whether the required apartments can actually be built in the east of Neue Bahnstadt. The Esslinger Zeitung reports that the city has been intensively planning this project for around eight years.

Planned residential area and infrastructure

A new residential area is to be built in the area surrounding Nürtingen train station, which will include around 180 apartments. The urban planning envisages continuing the urban structure on both sides of the tracks. The main elements include connecting the train station square with the square at the Alte Seegrasspinnerei through underpasses and overpasses. In order to prepare the construction site, the buildings at Plochinger Straße 31 and 37 will be demolished.

However, the building sites cannot currently be advertised due to the existing legal hurdles. This puts the concept award process on hold, as the municipality does not want to award the properties to the highest bidders, but rather to the best concepts. A municipal project team has already formed an assembly group that has enough members to be able to plan and act.

Investments and further planning

A Stuttgart investor is planning to build 300 residential units on the “Gleis 13” property for around 100 million euros. Meanwhile, Mayor Johannes Fridrich has asked federal and state decision-makers to withdraw the regulation that is currently slowing the progress of the project. Federal Construction Minister Klara Geywitz had announced that she would revise the law, but so far there has been no progress.

The municipality is planning further infrastructure measures, including a new main road east of the tracks to better concentrate traffic. In addition, a neighborhood garage with parking spaces for residents and commuters will be provided. Deutsche Bahn will build a staircase and an elevator to improve connections to the S-Bahn network. Two barrier-free ramps are also being planned for the Tälesbahn and S-Bahn sections.

Although the planning processes are continuing, an amendment to Section 23 AEG is urgently needed in order to completely remove the legal hurdles and to be able to use the former railway area for municipal purposes. The success of these projects depends largely on the upcoming political decisions and reforms.