Urban development assistance

Social City Programme

With the "Social City" programme, the Federal Government is helping towns and cities to improve living conditions in neighbourhoods that are physically run-down, economically disadvantaged and socially deprived. In areas where problems overlap, physical regeneration is accompanied by measures from various policy areas, such as housing policy, economic policy, labour policy, integration policy, education policy and social policy, which are consolidated to form an integrated urban development policy at local authority level.

Urban restructuring

The “Urban Restructuring in the Old Federal States” and “Urban Restructuring in the New Federal States” programmes provide assistance to towns and cities that are especially hard hit by structural change. This includes conserving the fabric of historic buildings, improving the quality of life and taking precautions to prevent high vacancy rates, as well as the regeneration of city centres, the redevelopment of derelict industrial and military sites and, where necessary, the demolition of dwellings that are surplus to requirements.

Heritage Conservation

With the “Protection of the Urban Architectural Heritage” programme, we help towns and cities to preserve historic city centres and urban areas for future generations. Our programme entitled “Funding of Investment in National World Heritage Sites” is a major contribution towards preserving the cultural heritage for subsequent generations.

Active City and District Centres

The "Active City and District Centres" programme is the flagship programme for inner urban development. Attractive city and district centres, with their traditional, owner-run retail businesses, with community centres and cultural facilities, are important for establishing ties between citizens and the places in which they live, and they foster a sense of identity. This programme shapes structural change in the centres of towns and cities. The centres are to be strengthened as attractive locations.