Future of downtown Bremen: with mix to the new quality of life!

Future of downtown Bremen: with mix to the new quality of life!

Ehemaliges Horten-Kaufhaus, Bremen, Deutschland - On June 19, 2025, the fourth inland city's former Horten department store dialogue under the motto "Do you do the mix?" instead of. Around 200 guests, including representatives from politics, business and the city society, came together to discuss the future mixture of uses to revitalize Bremen city center. The organizer was the project office inner city of Bremen, who presented a new action plan with the support of Prof. Klaus Overmeyer (Urban Catalyst) and Jan Casper-Damberg (project office): Centrum Bremen 2030+.

Mayor Dr. In his opening speech, Andreas Bovenschulte emphasized the social responsibility for the change in the city center. Carl Zillich, managing director of the project office, emphasized that living places can only arise from the cooperation of all actors. This view is particularly important in times when many city centers, including Bremen, face challenges such as demographic change and structural change in retail.

Action Plan Center Bremen 2030+

The new action plan is updated by the "Center 2030+ Strategy Center 2030+", which was launched in 2021. The strategy aims to further develop the Bremen city center between Wall and Weser. The focus here is on new residence and green areas, cultural offers, living opportunities and better accessibility. The Urban Catalyst office has led the development process with a strong citizen participation.

The interactive action plan is divided into three fields of action: until 2027, until 2030 and then. It also includes twelve graphically prepared cards and two spatial "magnifying glasses". The measures aim to revitalize the western core area through the conversion of former department stores, parking garages and vacant buildings. The aim is to create a mix of use of retail, gastronomy, culture, education, leisure and living.

challenges and solutions

The current challenges for inner cities are diverse. The demographic change, the effects of climate change and the changed demands on mobility and quality of stay are just a few aspects that play a role here. The study by BBSR shows that many city and district centers have lost on functional substance.

In the city center of Bremen, it is now important to reverse this trend. Exemplary projects, such as the redesign of the former Sparkasse area on Brill, are intended to create new uses and improve the traffic areas for foot and cycle paths. Such measures are considered the key to the future development of the city.

For the action plan, there were various partners, including the senators for climate protection, environment, mobility, urban development and housing as well as economy, work and Europe. The Bremen Chamber of Commerce also played an important role. The entire process was shaped and took place in an open dialogue with the urban society.

If you want to learn more about the full action plan, you can call it up as an interactive PDF at www.binnenstadt.de/aktionplan . Lena Panzlau from the city center of Bremen's project office is happy to provide media inquiries.

The feedback from the city society is encouraging, and it turns out that a sustainable mix of use becomes essential for the living further development of the inner city. In times of change, as we are experiencing it now, it is important that all actors work together. This is the only way to remain an attractive place to live, work and linger in the future.

You can find more information on urban development in Bremen on the [Bau Bremen] website (https://bau.bremen.de/stadtentwicklung/stadtentwicklung-1267036).