Berlin is a city as well as a federal state. With 3.6 million inhabitants and
an area of 892 km2, the German capital is the most populous city in Germany
and also the largest in extent. Open spaces (parklands, forests, water and
agricultural land) comprise more than 40 % of the area of the city. Berlin
as a metropolis is integrated into the joint planning procedures for the
capital city region Berlin-Brandenburg. As the main planning instrument on
a citywide level, Land Use Planning is regulated by German planning legislation.
The Land Use Plan serves as a strategic framework for more detailed planning
concepts for sub-areas of special importance. Local Plans have to follow
the general zoning pattern of the Land Use Plan.
Strucural Diagram
The Berlin region is characterised by a star shaped settlement pattern reflecting
the suburban public transport corridors. The morphology of this specific layout
of settlements and open spaces is illustrated by a structural diagram.
This gives
a simplified picture of the typology and the density of spatial relationships
for Berlin and the surrounding area. It shows characteristic features of the
city, including the inner city enclosed by a circular railway line (in the shape
of a "dog’s head"), the transitional zone between inner and outer city, the interconnected
large scale forest areas, the corridors of built up areas and of open spaces,
and the interfaces between urban built up areas and peripheral open landscapes.
The diagram also takes account of planning objectives such as the developments
around Berlin’s new international airport BER.
Development Plan Capital Region (LEP HR)
Since the early 1990ies, Berlin and Brandenburg have agreed on a joint state-wide
planning approach for the combined area of the two federal states. This is currently
based on the joint Statement for the Capital Region Berlin-Brandenburg (2006),
on the Development Programme (LEPro, 2007) and on the Development Plan Capital Region
(LEP HR, 2019). The state-wide planning policies and objectives are aimed at
concentrating development in locations with favourable conditions such as good
transport connections, a strong local economy and a concentration of population.
The LEP HR has specified criteria for the practical implementation of the guiding
principle “to strengthen the strong” in the combined area of both
states. The capital region as a whole has a population of just below 5.9 million
inhabitants, of which 4.4 million live in Berlin and nearby communities within
commuting distance.
Regional Planning
On the regional planning level, the framework of the joint state-wide policy guidelines is complemented and elaborated in greater detail for sub-areas of the metropolitan region. Taking into consideration the planning objectives of the individual communities within their areas, five regional planning bodies prepare Regional Plans for their respective territories adjoining Berlin. The Berlin Land Use Plan, which includes specifications of regional significance, is the counterpart to these plans as far as the city itself is concerned. Zoning alloca-tions of the Land Use Plan for railways, inland ports, major roads and urban centres are considered to be of regional significance and have to be respected on the more local levels of planning.
StEP Wohnen 2030
Sectoral Development Plans (StEP) relating to the whole area
of the city substantiate the planning objectives of the Land Use Plan for key
aspects. They set down
guiding principles and objectives for subjects such as housing, social services,
supply and disposal facilities or transportation, and point out possible steps
of action in the respective fields. In a similar sense, the Landscape Programme
(LaPro) fulfils the function of a citywide spatial planning instrument. Currently
the Sectoral Development Plans on urban centres, on trade and industry and on
transportation are being revised. An additional Sectoral Development Plan will
deal with planning strategies to counteract climatic change on the urban level.
Transformation areas
Under the heading Transformation areas the
City Development Concept (StEK) 2030 sets out guiding principles for parts of
Berlin
which are
of special
importance for economic development, for internal structural change and for the
external presentation of the city. The most important strategic areas are the
core of the inner city, the inner city edges to the north and south, Tegel airport (with a view to their redevelopment after closure) and the
corridor leading from the inner city in a south-easterly direction to the “science
city” of Adlershof and further on to the new airport BER.
Area Planning Concepts
The Land Use Plan is complemented by Area Planning Concepts (Planwerke) as a
more informal planning instrument. Whereas the Land Use Plan determines land
uses and densities, the Area Planning Concepts cover a wider range of planning
topics. They translate the abstract policies of the Land Use Plan for their particular
sub-area into a more tangible urban vision and look at the local urban context
and development opportunities, always within the context of the policy framework
for the city as a whole. Thus they substanti-ate and visualise citywide policies
on the local level. Distinguishing between existing and proposed uses, Area Planning
Concepts help to point out how new developments can be fitted into the existing
urban fabric.
