Leipzig

The city faces several pressing planning challenges, including soil sealing, contaminated soils, and the effects of climate change. Urban heat, drought, and heavy rainfall events are becoming increasingly relevant in urban planning. Although Leipzig has moved towards water-sensitive urban planning in recent years, there is high pressure on vacant and undeveloped land due to economic and demographic dynamics. This increase in land take and soil sealing is expected to impact Leipzig’s capacity to adapt to climate change and protect urban biodiversity.

Urban planning in Leipzig has increasingly integrated water-sensitive strategies, supported by dedicated networks, policies, and projects. Several development projects focus on creating new water-sensitive city quarters both in the city center and in peripheral areas. These projects include sites situated on brownfields, such as an old railroad site, as well as on undeveloped former agricultural land. Ideally, these projects should offer opportunities for managing urban soils more sustainably, in particular with regard to soil sealing, contamination, and soil biodiversity.

This pilot aims to examine the integration of water-sensitive planning in Leipzig and its cross-sectoral implementation. In collaboration with city administration departments, several ongoing development projects will be analyzed, with a particular focus on how soil challenges - such as soil sealing, soil biodiversity, and decontamination - are considered throughout project planning. By studying these projects, the pilot seeks to understand how soil functions interplay and where trade-offs occur. The findings will contribute to recommendations for future water-sensitive urban planning efforts.