© Thorben Sell / Universität Jena / Interko2

The project aims to develop an integrated residential housing concept in the metropolitan growth area of Leipzig/Halle and the Jena/Saale-Holzland District. In the centre of the projects stands an iterative and cooperative participation and negotiation process. Supported through the funding activity Stadt-Land-Plus from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the project is implemented under the leadership of the IfL in cooperation with the City of Leipzig, the District of Leipzig, and the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena. Further central German cities and districts, the Metropolregion Mitteldeutschland (Central German Metropolitan Region), the Mitteldeutscher Verkehrsverbund GmbH (Central German Transport Association), the Regionaler Planungsverband Leipzig-Westsachsen (Regional Planning Association Leipzig-Westsachen) and the Verband Sächsischer Wohnungsgenossenschaften e. V. (Incorporated Society of Association of Saxon Housing Cooperatives) are involved as associated partners.

The project focusses on the discussion and redistribution of residential building space requirements in a region that is characterized by heterogeneous developments. Interviews with municipal representatives and citizen surveys show on the one hand regional living requirements on the individual and on the regional level. On the other hand, they show development interests of municipalities within the study region. These results are analysed in the context of statistical data (demography, construction and economy). Therefore, Interko2 is establishing an effective monitoring system. Its purpose is to analyse and visualize local data on development trends and to identify small-scale development requirements.

By establishing a tool for determining housing space demands including self-development and additional housing requirements, an important step towards sustainable residential development is made. Furthermore, necessary communication processes have been launched. The project aims to support a sustainable residential housing development. Therefore, additional housing requirements should be realized in communities with a good (mobility) infrastructure and as inner-city development. The established tool should also sensitize policymakers to a sustainable space development and accompany stakeholders on their way towards an intercommunal coordinated residential housing development.

Since 2021, modules that were created for the monitoring system and for determining residential housing requirements for the region of Leipzig/Halle are transferred to the region of Jena/Saale-Holzland District. They will be examined for their applicability in other regions and adjusted if necessary.