The land use plan is the central planning tool used to shape the city’s land development in a forward-looking manner for the next 15 to 20 years. In doing so, the needs of urban development must be carefully balanced with those of nature conservation, environmental protection, and the landscape.

Mayor Gert-Uwe Mende emphasizes the importance of the plan: “With the preliminary draft, we have taken an important step in the revision of the land use plan. The land-use plan gives us the opportunity to steer the development of our city in such a way that we can provide sufficient housing and workplaces in the future while simultaneously responding adequately to climate change, preserving the natural balance, and safeguarding our urban and landscape character.”

As a preliminary step to the preliminary draft, the technical report on settlement development—which identified the key potential building sites within the city limits—was discussed last year in all 26 local councils. Representatives from the City Planning Office and the Environmental Office were present at the meetings to answer questions. Important insights were gained from the consultation results, which have now been incorporated into the drafting of the preliminary draft. 

Other key foundations for the development of the preliminary draft included the integrated urban development concept “Wiesbaden 2030+,” the citywide climate study, the commercial land development concept, and the health industry master plan.

The preliminary draft of the 2040 Land Use Plan includes new provisions to address key issues such as climate change and climate adaptation, sustainable energy supply, and the careful management of the natural environment and landscape. These include areas with climate functions that need to be protected or restored, areas for ground-mounted photovoltaic systems or earth-filled thermal storage basins, and areas designated for the preservation and development of high-quality urban peripheries. Land-use planning thus sets new standards for sustainable, holistic urban development.

The preliminary draft is also intended to incorporate the land-use interests of the state capital, Wiesbaden, into the revision process of the South Hesse Regional Plan. The goal is to align the regional planning provisions of the South Hesse Regional Assembly with Wiesbaden’s development objectives. To date, important land-use opportunities, such as the expansion of Max-Planck-Park in Delkenheim, have not been taken into account in regional planning. Furthermore, from the state capital’s perspective, the provision of housing and the land requirements of the energy transition are not yet sufficiently addressed in current regional plans. As early as December 2025, an initial city-wide statement on the draft of the South Hesse Regional Plan was submitted to the Darmstadt Regional Council.

Mayor Mende appeals in this regard: “We must continue to clearly articulate our concerns regarding regional planning so that, as the state capital, we can shape our land use development in a self-determined manner. The preliminary draft of our land use plan provides a good foundation for this.”

Components of the preliminary draft include the plan drawing, the explanatory statement, and the environmental report. Additionally, the landscape planning integration report is part of the land use planning documentation. Following the political deliberations, which are scheduled to take place through the end of September of this year, information sessions will be held for all interested citizens of Wiesbaden, and the documents for the 2040 land-use plan will be made available for public review. The public will then have the opportunity to review the preliminary draft, submit comments, and actively participate in the planning process.