Uckerfelde says no to the industrial area: citizen protests are having an impact!

Uckerfelde says no to the industrial area: citizen protests are having an impact!

The decision not to realize the planned industrial area in the Hohengüstow industrial and commercial area is causing a stir in the community of Uckerfelde. The local council decided at a meeting not to designate the southern construction site as an industrial area. This is a clear turnaround after approval for a development plan with eleven commercial areas and one industrial area was given in February 2023 and again in February 2024. The discussion has been reignited by increasing criticism from the population, especially from the Hohengüstow district. Concerns such as noise, traffic, odors and the loss of value of adjacent residential properties were loudly expressed, particularly in relation to the proximity to the planned biogas plant.

The decision is not without consequences. Mayors and supporters warn of missed opportunities: This means that the hope of new income through trade taxes, job creation and infrastructure investments is lost. The project developer is now faced with enormous pressure as traffic concepts, noise protection and environmental reports have to be revised. This will result in a delay in the development plan by at least a few months, possibly up to a year. However, the majority of the local council has decided to forego the industrial area and instead favors the development of commercial areas.

Sustainability as the key to the future

In a conversation with Hanka Mittelstädt, SDP candidate for the state election, and Stefan Zierke, SPD member of the Bundestag, future concepts for locating companies in the Uckermark were discussed. Both emphasized the growing importance of sustainability in the designation and development of new commercial areas. Mittelstädt reported on her experiences from discussions with companies and from visits to countries such as France, Hungary and Poland, where the integration of renewable energies - for example through biogas, solar and wind - is already being promoted. The Uckermark will also focus on renewable energies in the future in order to attract new investments and at the same time take the natural landscape and tourism into account.

Mittelstädt strongly emphasizes the need for dialogue with the population. Sustainability is no longer an option, but an essential prerequisite for economic development. This awareness goes hand in hand with the results of research on the sustainable development of commercial areas, as documented in the BBSR publication. There, insights were collected through urban development model projects, which, among other things, deal with the combination of urban development improvements and sustainable urban development.

Rethink the future

All of these aspects show that the future of commercial development in the Uckermark needs to be rethought. While the municipal decision on the industrial area in Hohengüstow could be perceived as a setback, the focus on sustainable commercial space offers great opportunities. A constructive discussion is required between the community, citizens and companies in order to turn the ideas and concepts of sustainability into reality.

The Uckermark has the opportunity to act as a pioneer for an environmentally conscious commercial space policy that not only takes into account the economic needs of the region, but also ensures harmonious coexistence with nature and the population. Having a good hand could benefit the region not only economically but also ecologically.

For everyone interested and committed, it will be exciting to see how the discussions and planning will develop as the municipal council continues to listen to the voices of its citizens. In this dynamic phase, it is important to weigh things up skillfully and in a future-oriented manner - there is definitely something going on here for the Uckermark.

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