Without agricultural land, there is no prosperity.

At the Ruhr Economic Development Summit, which was also organized by the skilled trades sector, it became clear that the shortage of commercial and industrial land could jeopardize the economic future of the Ruhr region. Faster development of available land, reliable funding structures, better infrastructure, and more practical procedures are needed.

Sufficient commercial and industrial space is needed for economic development in the Ruhr region. However, such space is particularly scarce in this densely populated metropolitan area. The increasing scarcity of economically usable land in the region jeopardizes prosperity. To draw attention to this problem and to suggest possible solutions, the Business Metropole Ruhr GmbH together with the regional chambers of crafts, district craft associations and the chambers of industry and commerce in the Ruhr area, we invited participants to the Ruhr Economic Area Summit in Dortmund.

"Without land, there is of course no production. Without land, there is also no innovation and investment. And without land, there are no jobs. And without jobs, there is ultimately no prosperity. And without prosperity, there is no social peace," Dortmund's Mayor Alexander Kalouti succinctly stated at the opening. The Ruhr region needs space for companies in industry, commerce, and trade. "We must roll out the red carpet for our entrepreneurs and do everything we can to attract them here."

Commercial areas as job engines

Commercial space is the engine of job creation in the Ruhr region, said Jörg Kemna, Managing Director of Business Metropole Ruhr GmbH. Unfortunately, land is a finite resource, and the currently available land is only sufficient for the next two and a half years. "Everyone needs to understand: land development doesn't happen overnight. If we set the course today, we won't have new land available for businesses for several years."

Thomas Kufen, deputy chairman of the North Rhine-Westphalia Association of Cities and Towns and mayor of Essen, added that financially strapped municipalities need support to prepare the few remaining available plots of land. "Therefore, we must work to ensure that we provide better financial support for land preparation with the help of the state, the federal government, and the European Union, so that companies don't end up looking at their books and saying, 'It's nice here, but everything is easier elsewhere.'"

You might also be interested in:

Craft policy

State government adopts relief package

Craft policy

Regional plan Ruhr: Tradespeople demand legal certainty

Craft policy

State government presents craft report

Plan for the needs of the trades.

In her keynote address, Minister of Economic Affairs Neubaur (Greens) emphasized: "To secure industrial strength and enable technological leadership, companies need space – space to invest, produce, and implement innovations." She advised municipalities to utilize the funding available through the joint federal and state program "Improvement of Regional Economic Structures" (GRW) for the activation and redevelopment of brownfield sites. "We are aware of the municipalities' plight. As a state, we support the remediation of brownfield sites – this creates vital space for sustainable business development, good jobs, and new opportunities."

Berthold Schröder, President of the Dortmund Chamber of CraftsJürgen Kroos, President of the [Association of German Craftsmen], emphasized: "The availability of sufficient and affordable commercial space is one of the key issues for the future of the skilled trades." He pointed out that craft businesses typically require smaller spaces, ideally located near city centers. This must be taken into account when designating land for development. "If we want the skilled trades to remain a strong driver of employment, training, and regional economic growth, then we need a forward-looking land-use policy that firmly incorporates the needs of the skilled trades." Only with sufficient space for businesses can growth, transformation, and employment be sustainably secured, explained Kroos. Chamber of Crafts Münster"This requires reliable framework conditions and more efficient procedures."

Figures on the demand for space by the skilled trades in the Ruhr area

Figures from a survey of craft businesses based in the Ruhr area in 2024:

• 11,1 percent stated that they want or need to relocate their business. A further 4,7 percent reported that they are looking for an additional location (total percentage of businesses looking for a new location: 15,8 percent).
• The main reason for a planned relocation was the lack of expansion possibilities at the current location. This was cited by 68,2 percent of the companies searching for a new location.
• When asked "Where are you looking for a new business location?" (multiple selections possible), 85 percent indicated that they were looking within their current municipality in the Ruhr region. 37,1 percent also looked in a neighboring municipality, while only 7,8 percent considered locations further afield. This underscores the strong local roots of the skilled trades and the need to maintain a sufficient supply of suitable premises locally.

Position paperAt the event, Business Metropole Ruhr GmbH, the Ruhr Region Chamber of Skilled Crafts, and the Chambers of Industry and Commerce in the Ruhr area presented a position paper to Minister of Economic Affairs Mona Neubaur. The paper contains various demands. Key concerns include structured support for the redevelopment of brownfield sites, the integration of these potential development areas into the overarching framework, and a consistent reduction of bureaucracy and cost-driving regulations. The position paper can be found here:Promote, simplify, and develop commercial areas".

DHB now also digital!Simply click here and register for the digital German Crafts Journal (DHB)!