Dr. Kerstin Meyer

Various planning approaches address industrial displacement because of direct and indirect industrial gentrification. New manufacturing companies are faced with high land and rental costs in urban areas, while housing priorities further limit space. This chapter examines these issues, drawing on findings from a German working group of the Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association (ARL). Focusing on legal and regulatory hurdles, it explores strategies to preserve and revitalize urban manufacturing in Germany. The findings demonstrate that the German planning system provides important starting points for counteracting industrial gentrification, but it is not sufficient to fully prevent displacement. Current debates in urban planning regarding instruments focus on the balance between regulation versus flexibility, particularly in light of rising land prices. Appropriate regulation, forward-looking policies, and non-statutory sectoral strategic planning for urban manufacturing and industrial sites – accompanied by complementary instruments – may strengthen the resilience of manufacturing sectors in cities. By situating the German case within this broader context, the chapter contributes to the international debate on sustaining sites for urban manufacturing.

Productive City, Industrial Gentrification, Manufacturing Companies, Planning Urban Areas