The Halle/Leipzig urban region is located in the heart of the Central German Metropolitan Region, at the border of the federal states of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. It has two main centres: the city of Leipzig, with 532,000 inhabitants, and the city of Halle (Saale), with 232,000 inhabitants. Including 32 surrounding municipalities, the urban region has approximately 1,090,000 inhabitants.
The region has achieved considerable success in attracting new companies, in particular in the automotive and automobile supply industries and logistics. However, there is an increasing shortage of large and attractive commercial and industrial sites. At the same time, there are numerous commercial areas which for years have not been used for investment. The challenge, therefore, is to develop adequate sites beyond the limits of existing administrative borders, creating a win-win situation for both cities and for the smaller municipalities in between.
Description of the pilot scheme
Since 1990, the urban region has developed into a dynamic and densely interlinked business region of European significance. In this respect, it is in competition with other strong economic areas, both within Germany itself and within Europe as a whole.
In 2009, therefore, a process of cooperation was launched between the cities and municipalities in the Halle/Leipzig urban region with the aim of coordinating the planning, development and marketing of commercial and industrial sites. Thanks to the cooperation across two federal states, the partners provide today a real estate offer with an enhanced profile, leading to increased competitiveness. Additionally, the pressure on municipal budgets has been reduced.
Since 2012, the cooperation has been supported through the City Regions project. The aim is the evaluation of options leading to the consolidation and possible extension of regional governance structures. Since many of the goals agreed on in the initial phase of the cooperation have been achieved, it is necessary to adapt the joint agenda to current challenges.
