The Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning

Research Project: Population Dynamics in Medium-sized Towns – Interactive Town-portraits!

Project briefing

Background

Medium-sized towns (population 20,000 to under 100,000) are an essential part of the urban structure in Germany. The 619 medium-sized towns that existed in Germany at the end of 2019 are very diverse. Several of them registered an increase in population over the last years. In-migration to medium-sized towns has different reasons and origins. Often, migration motives of newcomers are related to the towns’ location in space. Some medium-sized towns are attractive because they provide offers that are lacking in the rural regions, others because they provide housing alternatives near metropolises with tight housing markets. Others again distinguish themselves as strong centres in economically prospering regions. Further determining factors such as educational and health care infrastructure, as well as “soft locational factors” also have an impact on the attractiveness of the towns.

Objective

On the one hand, this study project aimed to contribute to fundamental research on growth dynamics in medium-sized towns in Germany. The intention was to build on the existing findings about factors and characteristics of growth processes and to specify, typify and exemplify them. The medium-sized towns were to receive “functional and urbanistic faces”. 

On the other hand, the aim of the study project was to investigate the options of steering the growth dynamics and features of attractiveness in the scope of application-oriented research. Steering options were identified as well as the actual exertion of influence and possible need for corrections in the steering of growth.

Specifically, the first task was to identify defining characteristics that could be used to specify types of medium-sized towns. The formation of three groups served to sketch out a differentiated picture of dynamically growing medium-sized towns, considering varieties of population growth.

Subsequenly, the aim was to use case studies to present the groups vividly. To this end, seven medium-sized towns were selected as representatives and their key characteristics were outlined concisely. By means of validating workshops, the description of three representatives was additionally sharpened.

The contractor was IfS – Institut für Stadtforschung und Strukturpolitik GmbH in Berlin.

Contact us

  • Dr. Brigitte Adam
    Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development
    Division RS 6 "Urban, Environmental and Spatial Monitoring"
    Phone: +49 228 99401-2325
    Email: brigitte.adam@bbr.bund.de

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