From 18.00 onwards on Monday, 29 June 2015, the draft will be presented and discussed during an event forming part of "Rethinking Leipzig" at the New Town Hall (festival hall, doors open at 17.30).
Directly afterwards there will be an opportunity for the public to obtain information about the draft and put forward their tips and ideas. The concept can be examined and commented on from 30 June to 24 July 2015 on www.leipzig.de/weiterdenken and during the exhibition in the City Office (Katharinenstrasse 2).
Supply of housing for all income levels
"The revised housing policy concept will create a framework under growth conditions so that all people living in Leipzig can find adequate housing corresponding to their wishes, needs and material means. However, the potential and innovative projects created during times of urban redevelopment will still retain their place in Leipzig if possible," said Dorothee Dubrau. In order to attain these objectives, four guiding principles with related implementation approaches were formulated in the housing policy concept:
An increase in the supply of housing will be promoted in spite of existing empty properties: qualitative housing requirements, for example a supply of different types of housing in locations appropriate to the urban structure, town planning aspects or architectural aspects, will be considered (for example, through advice from builders and as part of urban land-use planning).
In order to obtain enough apartments for low-income households, efforts will be made to cooperate more closely with housing market participants to secure cheap housing (for example through cooperation agreements with owners).
Due to demographic development and social responsibility, special assistance will be provided in regard to housing for families, senior citizens and disabled persons. (For example, requirements relating to the promotion of the construction of public housing in the Free State of Saxony will be formulated in this respect).
By preserving social city districts with mixed uses and ensuring continuous growth, housing policy will make a contribution towards sustainable urban development (for example through advice and support for projects involving affordable housing).
Background to the revision of the housing policy concept
The concept was based on changes on the housing market that were accompanied by the substantial increase in the number of residents in Leipzig in the last few years. The population of Leipzig rose by 12,500 in 2014. The number of births also exceeded the number of deaths for the first time since 1965.
The demand for housing is therefore also increasing, a fact which can be seen by the discernible building boom in the city: in the case of building projects involving 50 or more apartments, around 7,000 new apartments will be added in the next few years. By renovating empty old buildings, around 1,500 apartments will be reactivated annually. 22,000 apartments were still empty at the end of last year.
Funds amounting to €1 million have already been allocated in the 2016 budget so that implementation of the concept can start immediately after the decision due to be taken in autumn 2015.