Small towns on the rise: Innovative concepts for a new life!

Small towns on the rise: Innovative concepts for a new life!

In Germany, small towns are often overshadowed by their larger counterparts and are often associated with migration, aging and vacancies. The small town congress that recently took place in Wittenberge addressed these challenges and presented innovative approaches to strengthening the quality of life in these regions. Organized by the Small town academy, which will be based in Wittenberge in 2024 and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction with over two million euros, the congress brought together numerous actors.

The topics of the congress ranged from the recruitment and integration of city dwellers to the revitalization of vacant commercial spaces and the establishment of new forms of housing. Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dr. Dietmar Woidke emphasized the importance of a lobby for small towns, which play an important role in democracy in everyday life. Currently, over 24 million people live in Germany's approximately 2,100 small towns, which corresponds to around a third of the total population.

Innovative projects and approaches

Dr. Oliver Hermann, Mayor of Wittenberge, pointed to the ability of small towns to offer solutions to the housing problems in large cities. Wittenberge has already gained influx from larger cities through cooperation with housing associations and projects such as the “Summer of Pioneers”. Matthias Möller, mayor of Schlüchtern, presented a special project, introducing the “Bergwinkel department store”. This includes a closed department store that was converted into a cultural and meeting center and, with 14,000 square meters, including 5,000 square meters of living space, is a prime example of successful conversion.

A key challenge addressed at the congress is the lack of data on real estate markets in small towns, which are often considered a “black box”. Dr. Annett Steinführer from the Thünen Institute pointed out that a new working group at the Academy for Spatial Development will help create this transparency. In addition, eight municipalities in East Westphalia-Lippe announced that they would establish a joint development company in 2024 to promote local developments, which underlines the need for inter-municipal structures.

Research and future prospects

The BüWoLand research project deals intensively with the challenges and opportunities of living in small towns. The aim of this project is to strengthen the center of small towns and communities and is primarily concerned with shifting migration patterns and residential preferences. The central importance of small towns as residential locations was recorded in the “Schwalenberger Declaration”, which was published during the last project meeting. This project, which is being carried out as part of the small town academy, is intended to serve as a model for further developments.

In the pilot phase of the small town academy, intercollegiate coaching and transfer workshops will be tested, among other things, in order to increase the attractiveness of the inner cities. The insights gained and recommendations for action will contribute to strengthening small towns in the long term. The first small town congress was described as a success and concluded with a tour of the construction site through the renovated train station building from 1846 in Wittenberge, which is to be converted into a modern mobility hub by April 2025.

Overall, the Small Town Congress shows that small towns can overcome their challenges with perseverance and creative approaches in order to continue to exist as attractive places to live in the future and enrich the lives of their residents. The BBSR and the associated research projects will make a significant contribution to this development.