The ISEK is an informal, non-legally binding plan that is adopted by the Salzgitter City Council as a self-binding instrument. It strategically prepares the urban development of a municipality and defines the framework and basic objectives for further city-wide and district-related development plans and concepts. The ISEK is therefore an important guideline and building block for various urban planning processes. These include the transport development plan, the 2040+ land use plan and many other urban concepts. With this instrument, cities and municipalities take on an active and controlling role. The specific territorial reference provides a good basis for problem-oriented spatial and strategic solution development.

In 2004, the first ISEK was developed for the entire city against the backdrop of profound demographic changes and increasing vacancy rates. In 2012, the city had its previous efforts reviewed in the course of updating and updating the ISEK. Since 2015, there has been an increase in the population and forecasts predict further population growth until 2034. In view of the changed framework conditions, the ISEK will be updated again this year with the participation of local stakeholders and the public. The ISEK is being prepared by Planungsgruppe Stadtbüro GmbH on behalf of the City of Salzgitter. The office helped develop the 2004 and 2012 ISEKs and has worked on various other tasks in recent years as part of urban development funding in Salzgitter.

As part of the update of the ISEK, the thematic focus will continue to be on housing, urban development, municipal infrastructure and the attractiveness of public spaces. Against the background of the high population growth in recent years and the forecast further slight population growth up to 2034, the current developments in the investment priority areas in SZ-Lebenstedt, SZ-Thiede and SZ-Bad need to be reassessed. The previous recommendations for measures will be reviewed and, if necessary, adapted to changing conditions. In addition, the analysis will also identify possible new priority areas. The key issues for the city as a whole, namely the transformation of Salzgitter as an industrial location and the development of green and open spaces, are also of great importance, particularly with regard to the measures required to adapt to the effects of climate change.

The further development of the city of Salzgitter takes place with the support of its residents. That is why Salzgitter residents had the opportunity to actively participate in the planning process over the summer of 2025. From the beginning of June to the end of August 2025, interested parties were able to leave their ideas and suggestions on an interactive, digital map.

There was a great deal of interest: over 2,200 people used the digital platform to find out about their fellow citizens' suggestions, rate project ideas or submit their own contributions. A total of 443 suggestions were submitted. Many used the opportunity to react to ideas that had already been entered by "liking" or "disliking" them. In total, there were over 5,200 reactions to the suggestions entered. The entries were analyzed and incorporated into the further development of the Integrated Urban Development Concept (ISEK).

In November 2025, four public district workshops were held in SZ-Lebenstedt, SZ-Thiede, SZ-Gebhardshagen and SZ-Bad as a further opportunity for participation, in which all districts of the seven towns could be examined more closely. Here, interested parties were able to contribute their own ideas in a personal exchange on site, evaluate the current situation with experts and jointly develop future prospects and measures. The events were well attended. The results of the district workshops will qualify the update of the ISEK 2025 and put the concept on a broader footing.

Work on updating the ISEK began in April 2025. Through various participation opportunities, local stakeholders, the interested public, as well as local politicians and administrative officials were involved in the process, ensuring that comments, ideas, and suggestions were incorporated into the conceptual work. In addition to digital participation, neighborhood workshops were held in the fall of 2025 in SZ-Lebenstedt, SZ-Thiede, SZ-Gebhardshagen, and SZ-Bad, where interested parties could actively contribute to the process. The analysis phase and the development of a strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats (SWOT) analysis have been completed. Building on this, strategic goals were formulated and concrete measures were developed. In the fall of 2026, the results of this work will be presented at a public closing event. The final report is expected to be available in spring 2027, after which it will be discussed and approved at the political level.

In the fall of 2026, a public closing event will be held to present the results of the project.

Department of Urban Planning

Land Use Plan and Spatial Development Planning Team

Erik Jaschkowitz

Phone: 0 53 41 / 839-3748

E-mail: erik.jaschkowitzstadt.salzgitterde

Address Joachim-Campe-Straße 6-8, 38226 Salzgitter