Bergisch Gladbach's Bauturbo Fast-Tracks Housing Despite Local Concerns
Bergisch Gladbach is speeding up housing projects with a new fast-track system called the Bauturbo. The Planning Committee has approved three pilot developments under the scheme, including a controversial high-density building nicknamed the Strundorfer Monster. Local politicians insist they will keep firm control over urban growth despite the quicker process.
For years, Bergisch Gladbach relied on detailed zoning plans that often took months or even years to approve. Now, the federal government's Bauturbo lets residential projects bypass some Building Code and Land Use Ordinance rules—if they fit the city's broader development goals.
Three projects have already won approval under the new system. The first is a residential development on the former postal site Im Bungert in Bensberg. The second covers the Lüttgen-Areal on Odenthaler Straße. The third is an elderly care centre with short-term care on Lower Hauptstraße. All three had previously faced delays under the old zoning process.
The committee welcomed the chance to build homes faster but set strict criteria for using the Bauturbo. Politicians stressed they would not give up local oversight. Meanwhile, the CDU, SPD, and Greens showed rare unity, drafting a joint motion to pause decisions on historic townhouses until a master plan for the entire downtown area is ready.
Debates also touched on other local issues. The CDU pushed to ease congestion around the market square rather than move the bus stop. Wilfried Förster of Volt/FWG suggested temporary uses for empty townhouse spaces. Progress on the Herkenrath local supply centre remains slow due to drainage problems, while the city retains a right of first refusal for the Wachendorff project—but only outside forced auctions.
The Bauturbo has cut through red tape for three key housing projects in Bergisch Gladbach. The city's main parties have agreed on most decisions, though smaller factions contributed ideas on town centre management. With faster approvals now in place, officials will watch closely to ensure development stays aligned with local priorities.
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