Urban Development Project “From a Large Parking Lot to Regnitzstadt”

As early as the summer of 2015, the Committee on the Environment, Transportation, and Planning (UVPA for short) adopted the first general objectives for the development of the large parking lot. In 2020, the City of Erlangen announced a competition for the development of the neighborhood. The Dortmund-based planning firm scheuvens + wachten plus was commissioned to prepare the urban development framework plan in the summer of 2021.

Framework planning is an informal tool for urban development and serves to develop an urban design concept. This forms the basis for subsequent land-use planning, which becomes legally binding through the adoption ofzoning plans.

During the framework planning process for Regnitzstadt, numerous consultation processes took place and information was provided to the public. In the summer of 2023, the preliminary draft, along with the explanatory report, was submitted to the UVPA for information purposes. Subsequently, a more detailed draft of the framework plan was developed.

The current status of the framework plan was approved by the City Council in the summer of 2024. It will thus serve as the basis for further work.

View a brochure on the framework plan.

Based on the Urban Development Framework Plan (2024), additional expert reports, feasibility studies, and planning documents are currently being developed. This work is in preparation for the binding urban land-use plan.

The public will be informed and involved in appropriate formats as the project progresses.

The following objectives were adopted by the City Council on June 29, 2023, as part of the project definition (see “Appendix 2: Project Objectives”):

• Creation of a distinctive city entrance on the “Erlangen scale”
• A vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood
• Affordable housing and social diversity
• Promoting neighborly relations and social cohesion
• Blue and green infrastructure for climate adaptation
• Integrated, energy-efficient neighborhood concept
• Overcoming existing barriers
• Upgrading the transportation hub
• Preserving its function as a central parking facility
• Smart solutions for managing traffic noise
• Transparent planning processes and opportunities for public participation

For a project of the scale and complexity of Regnitzstadt, a longer-term planning and implementation timeline must be established. The timeline will also be reviewed regularly and updated as necessary.

Now that the framework plan is in place, additional fundamental studies and concepts are currently being prepared for the urban land-use planning process. Regnitzstadt is divided into modules, for each of which separate development plans are being developed. The plan is to begin the binding urban land-use planning and site development planning for the first module in the course of 2026.

The first module will consist of the mobility hub and parking structures, ensuring that the central functions of the large parking lot are maintained in the future.

Additional modules to the north and south, featuring new areas for residential and commercial use, will be developed subsequently.

Marketing of the lots is scheduled to begin toward the end of the 2020s. The development of Regnitzstadt—including infrastructure, public spaces, and building construction—is expected to be completed by the mid-2030s.

Thanks to its location near the train station, Regnitzstadt is well connected to both local and long-distance public transportation. In addition, a stop with a turning loop for the Stadt-Umland-Bahn (StUB) is planned. The inner-city bus network will be adjusted as the StUB is built. A transfer point for city and county buses is planned. It will also be possible to transfer to long-distance buses here.

Furthermore, bicycle traffic is an essential part of the mobility concept. Of particular note here is the priority bike route, which will bridge the gap between the western and eastern parts of Erlangen. A bicycle parking garage with approximately 2,000 spaces is to be built west of the train station for bicycle parking.

Pedestrian traffic is also a high priority. A barrier-free connection to all areas of the mobility hub will be ensured. The Green-Blue Boulevard is designed to serve as a particularly attractive link into the northern neighborhood. The themes of this traffic-calmed boulevard are greening and stormwater management in line with the “sponge city” concept. A water-permeable and green design meets the requirements of climate-adapted neighborhood development.

The new neighborhood is designed to be traffic-calmed with regard to private motorized transportation. In the south, central parking facilities with approximately 2,520 parking spaces will be built.

As Regnitzstadt develops, the bus platforms will be integrated into the new mobility hub. They are expected to be located on the ground floor of the eastern parking garage (see master plan).

The site is currently used as a large parking lot. This function of the area will be maintained for the city as a whole in the future as well. To this end, parking garages are to be built that will offer more parking spaces than are currently available in the large parking lot.

With the resolution on stationary traffic (February 2025), approximately 2,000 bicycle parking spaces within the mobility hub and approximately 2,520 parking spaces for private motorized transport were approved as the basis for further planning. In the reference year 2010, there were approximately 2,000 parking spaces at the large parking lot. By the end of 2025, following the opening of the parking area in place of the former parking garage, there are expected to be approximately 1,390 parking spaces.

A transfer point to the free City Line is being created. This line provides access to all destinations in the downtown area.

For more information on current parking options, visit Parking in Erlangen.

The town of Regnitz is located between heavily trafficked transportation routes (a railroad line and the A73 highway). As part of the master planning process, an acoustic assessment was conducted. This assessment identifies the acoustic conditions to be expected and the measures required to ensure healthy living and working conditions. The report will serve as the basis for further planning.

Yes, even with the reorganization of traffic areas, the functions of the taxi stands and the “kiss-and-ride” (i.e., picking up or dropping off passengers by private vehicles) will still be available.

The public can stay informed about the project at any time via the City of Erlangen’s website. In addition, public events are held to mark important milestones in the planning process. The following events have taken place so far:

June 2024: City walk “From the Large Parking Lot to Regnitzstadt”

The finalized master plan was presented using conceptual diagrams during a walking tour of the large parking lot.

November 2023: Information session on the master plan

• A public event was held to discuss the emerging master plan, with ample opportunity for questions and suggestions.

May 2023: Stop on the “Cycling Through the City” tour with Mayor Dr. Janik

• The “Cycling Through the City” event offered interested participants the opportunity to learn about current projects in the city.

July 2019: Information Session on the Competition

• The event began with a walk through the large parking lot with the Planning and Construction Officer. Afterward, residents were able to work together to develop ideas for the future of the area. The results of the public participation were documented and incorporated into the competition guidelines.