Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Lohse, in your municipal role you are responsible for the development of a new district for sustainable living and working. What exactly is planned there?

Bernd Lohse: Approximately two-thirds of the 39-hectare development area is intended for commercial construction. An additional 4.5 hectares will likely be assigned to typical mixed-use forms; this adds to about a 3-hectare residential area complementing the existing garden city. At its core, we aim to promote the settlement of crafts businesses and industrial companies across the board in this area – for this purpose, we can not only design the plot division largely according to the needs of the respective investors but also arrange them in sensible clusters to promote important synergies right at the location level. The fact that these areas have already experienced industrial pre-use is an important advantage – with the city-shaping buildings, we have both an address and a 'face'. Once we have removed the structural obstacles, the respective investor will then receive already proven building land with clear specifications, on the basis of which his architect can immediately begin reliable planning. This is seldom the case with greenfield projects.

Wirtschaftsforum: However, the Neue Zeche Westerholt is intended to not only serve as an attractive industrial site, but also to provide a beautiful living environment.

Bernd Lohse: This is also crucial from an economic perspective - because only in this way can the companies that are to settle in this area make themselves attractive to their urgently needed skilled workers. In this context, economic enterprises today pay attention not only to price and a synergistic network when choosing their location, but particularly also to a creative, attractive living environment for their employees. The sustainable and comprehensive satisfaction of all basic existential needs - from living and working to recreation and education - therefore plays a paramount role in our approach. In this context, we are also planning the consistent establishment of local supply opportunities, barrier-free living forms for young and old, health service providers, and cultural offerings. Our vision is the "15-minute location", where all basic existential functions are represented in one neighborhood and are within a fifteen-minute walking distance for every resident.

Wirtschaftsforum: How exactly do you support companies that want to settle at the Neue Zeche Westerholt?

Bernd Lohse: We aim to accompany investors in land and existing building operations from the initial exploration and support them in overcoming all legal, administrative, and business challenges. This includes coordinating with the corresponding building regulation authorities, facilitating the provision of funding, and creating a sustainably attractive blue-green business environment. However, in keeping with our self-understanding, we will not only support but also challenge the investors at this point – for example, by mandating the installation of photovoltaic systems and the design of an attractive green roof.

Wirtschaftsforum: Many real estate developers in Germany today complain about a lack of planning certainty – this is likely to pose a major challenge for a long-term project like the Neue Zeche Westerholt.

Bernd Lohse: I must admit that this issue also concerns me personally as a Democrat from time to time. I am convinced that politics must provide people with security – and this includes planning certainty and investment security in the business context. Crucial for private economic actors is not only that their financial resources are sensibly invested, but that the respective projects can also be realized within a reasonably predictable timeframe. Against this backdrop, it is the clear objective of our municipal company to provide investors with timely and customer-oriented security, where we can act as guarantors. We want to be the enablers and contribute in this way to the revitalization of this area. In order for the first large areas of Neue Zeche Westerholt to be ready for the market by 2028 according to plan, we must therefore already enter into coordination with potential investors today – after all, a business relocation alone takes a good two years.

Wirtschaftsforum: What benefits are expected from your project for the entire region in the long term?

Bernd Lohse: I was born and raised in Gelsenkirchen. I love this region and I am very much aware of the responsibility I have to responsibly develop 39 hectares of land here, a responsibility I have only on loan for a while. It is also my personal drive to create a beautiful and livable quarter for about 1,500 people who will eventually find jobs on this site, offering not only attractive job opportunities but also diverse cultural offerings, and to be ready for a sustainable future in terms of ecological balance – embedded in the ideal conditions that our spatial environment offers: Right in the neighborhood are beautiful castles and forests, a wonderful golf course, and the picturesque old village of Westerholt – as well as exciting companies that offer a variety of professional and personal development opportunities. It pleases me to be able to contribute a little bit every day.