On Thursday, December 7th, the Überherrn municipal council approved the development agreement between the state, district and municipality for infrastructural support around the Linsler Feld relocation project. The Saarland government, together with Strukturholding Saar and the Saarlouis district, will make the community even more attractive in the public interest. During the meeting of the municipal council, Mayor Anne Yliniva-Hoffmann, Economics Minister Jürgen Barke, District Administrator Patrik Lauer and the Managing Directors of Strukturholding Saar, Rita Gindorf-Wagner and Thomas Schuck, signed the agreement.
Anne Yliniva-Hoffmann, Überherrn Mayor:
`The signing of the joint development agreement between the state, district and our municipality is of big relevance to our future here in Überherrn. The Linsler Feld with the relocation planned there is a central location for transformation in Saarland. However, in order to be able to manage this new industrial settlement and the associated consequences, a holistic view and development of our community is demanded. In Überherrn, family, living and working are combined . And that’s exactly the starting point of the development agreement. I am very grateful to the state and district for their support in this project which assures that we can include all relevant factors regarding the development of our community.`
Jürgen Barke, Minister of Economics, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy:
`Today is a good day for the community and the whole district. We support the community in this large industrial relocation project with comprehensive infrastructural measures. With its approval today, the municipal council has created the prerequisites that we can start with the individual implementation steps already soon.`
Patrik Lauer, Saarlouis District Administrator:
`Our district is the industrial powerhouse in Saarland. To make sure that it stays that way, we will support new industrial settlements as here in Überherrn with important infrastructure projects. We all know that it takes sustainable jobs, for ourselves and for those who come after us. But the transformation of our economy can only be accomplished with people, not against them. Therefore, it is crucial to win communities and local people over and provide them with all kinds of support. We need a welcoming culture for new industrial relocations and the development agreement signed today is an important step towards this. Only so, we will have a bright future here in Saarland.`
The development agreement includes commercial development measures, housing construction projects, planning support for the community, the extension of educational and caring facilities as well as transport infrastructure and public services projects.
For example, the commercial development of the ´Kunzelfelder Huf III` area is planned. There, small and medium-sized businesses shall be settled. The Saarland government wants to meet the rising demand for residential space near the workplace through the creation of residential land and rental housing opportunities.
Also the construction of a new voluntary all-day school at the Berus elementary school and in Überherrn, as well as the expansion or new erection of kindergartens in Wohnstadt and Felsberg are planned.
Regarding the transport infrastructure, the renovation of cross-town roads, bicycle protection lanes and crossing aids, for example on the B405, are planned. Furthermore, the community’s cycling traffic network shall be reviewed holistically and expanded. Also a public transport connection to the industrial and commercial areas shall be established.
Depending on the topic, the individual measures of the development agreement are included in the different budgets of the respective partners. The actual volume depends on the particular implementation steps in the project.
News release and photo: Community of Überherrn / Jessica Libera