Arnsberg city secures land for a shared industrial zone among municipalities

In a significant step towards the development of sustainable economic areas in South Westphalia, the cities of Arnsberg and Meschede have jointly acquired a 6.1-hectare area in Wildshausen. This purchase marks the first instance of an inter-municipal industrial area, aiming to address the shortage of commercial areas in both cities while preserving untouched land.

The acquisition was facilitated by the Land NRW Real Estate Fund, enabling public initial purchase, remediation of contaminated sites, and development of infrastructure for structurally important locations. These tasks, which many cities could not have tackled with their own resources, are now underway.

The EFRE project "Sustainable Economic Areas in South Westphalia" supports innovative concepts regarding future mobility, climate-conscious building of industrial operations, and sustainable energy supply concepts. This project may contribute to the development of the inter-municipal industrial area, making it an attractive and eco-friendly location for businesses.

The cities of Arnsberg and Meschede will negotiate the public-law contract for the secure regulation of the most important aspects of inter-municipal cooperation with the Hochsauerlandkreis, the district of Hochsauerland. A new access road is planned to connect the entire inter-municipal industrial area directly to the federal motorway (BAB) 46, further enhancing its accessibility.

The regional government has made preparations for the development of the inter-municipal industrial area through its 17th regional plan amendment in 2023. The decision to sell the areas was made by NRW.URBAN, a development company of the state of NRW, with the aim of supporting sustainable commercial area development.

Arnsberg's Mayor, Ralf Paul Bittner, stated that the location is ideally suited for further strengthening the local and regional economy. He is optimistic about the potential for long-term increasing tax revenues and local jobs, securing the attractiveness of the cities of Arnsberg and Meschede as future residential locations. Meschede's Mayor, Christoph Weber, shares this optimism, expressing his belief in the inter-municipal industrial estate's potential for high supraregional appeal.

The further development of industrial sites is now possible without any obstacles. The inter-municipal industrial area approach is of great importance due to the shortage of commercial areas in both cities. As the existing industrial estates grow together into a strong location, offering high-quality industrial and commercial areas in an attractive environment, the path to success for businesses in Arnsberg and Meschede is paved.