Building

For an attractive

City centre

Inner city development

Over the next few years, Bocholt's city centre is to be developed in an attractive and future-oriented manner as a retail and gastronomy location, as a leisure location and as a residential area.

Some measures have already been implemented, others are being realised or are still in the planning stage.

Concepts

Bocholt's city centre is being developed on the basis of the following concepts:

Integrated urban development concept

The Integrated Urban Development Concept (ISEK) is a strategic planning instrument for the sustainable development of the city of Bocholt. It considers different areas such as housing, mobility, climate protection, social infrastructure and the economy in a holistic context. Together with citizens, specialist planners and political players, guidelines, objectives and key areas of action for future urban development are developed. The ISEK forms the basis for the subsequent concrete implementation of individual measures and often also serves as a prerequisite for applying for public funding. In this way, it helps to make the city fit for the future and worth living in.

The city of Bocholt is currently planning the reorganisation of the ISEK

City management

City management has the task of increasing the attractiveness of Bocholt's city centre and keeping it lively in order to attract streams of customers and visitors to the city centre and thus revitalise the city economically and culturally.

Immediate city centre programme against shop vacancies

The city centre is a central place of urban life - characterised by trade, services, culture and encounters. In order to secure its function as a lively and diverse space even under changing conditions, the "SofortprogrammInnenstadt" (City Centre Immediate Action Programme) has been launched. It aims to open up new usage perspectives for vacant shop spaces, promote creative concepts and thus contribute to the sustainable revitalisation and increased attractiveness of city centres. The programme gives municipalities the opportunity to initiate future-oriented developments together with local stakeholders and to further develop the city centre. Further information, also on funding, here.

Design guideline city centre 2023

The design guideline for Bocholt's city centre is a practice-oriented instrument that contributes to the qualitative development of the cityscape. It serves as a binding orientation framework for property owners, tradespeople, architects and all other stakeholders involved in the structural design and use of the city centre.

The aim of the guideline is to preserve and strengthen Bocholt's unmistakable character - through the careful further development of existing structures, the integration of new buildings with a high-quality design and the harmonised use and furnishing of public spaces. The design guideline thus provides a valuable basis for securing both the identity and the attractiveness of the city centre in the long term.

It also promotes transparent coordination processes between the administration and the public and contributes to planning security. In this way, the guideline supports a common understanding of urban design that combines aesthetics, functionality and economic efficiency.

Completed projects

Liebfrauenplatz

Part of the area on Liebfrauenplatz has been transformed into an urban garden with a playground.

The area was already created as a temporary play garden for the "Bocholter Gärten" campaign in spring 2022. This was very well received by citizens and politicians alike, so the play garden, which was initially planned for a few weeks, remained in place over the summer.

At the same time, the majority of respondents were in favour of permanently repurposing Liebfrauenplatz and creating a green urban space and playground there. This is already planned as a measure in the city of Bocholt's mobility concept and thus corresponds to the goal of upgrading Liebfrauenplatz into a city square in the medium term. The playground was then planned and built by the waste disposal and service company (ESB). The square was opened in December 2023.

The various play and seating elements were integrated into an attractively designed garden area to increase the quality of stay. Due to the time of year, the plantings will not appear in their full splendour until 2024.

The city of Bocholt is being financially supported by funding from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia from the "Sofortprogramm zur Stärkung unserer Innenstädte und Zentren des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen".

Planters

The planters were planted with insect-friendly plants by employees of the waste disposal and service company (ESB). The planters are made of stainless steel and some also have oak benches. The wood comes from Bocholt oak trees that were felled by the ESB in the past during heavy storms.

The planters are also mobile, meaning that they can be transported away by the ESB during major events on Georgsplatz, such as the Bocholt Wine Festival, and then set up again afterwards.

The purchase of the planters was funded by the "Procurement of inner city qualities" component of the "Immediate inner city programme to strengthen our inner cities and centres" of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Framework plan for the railway station area

As part of the state initiative for building land by rail, the city of Bocholt, together with BahnflächenEntwicklungsGesellschaft NRW mbH (BEG NRW), commissioned the BahnStadt agency from Berlin to draw up a framework plan.

Key elements of the framework plan are

Identification of potential for residential development
New footpath connection to the city centre between Aa-Südufer and the railway station
Car park for commuters, visitors to the city centre and the learning centre
Redesign of the station square

The framework plan forms the basis for further planning.

Historic town hall

The listed town hall on the market square, which dates back to the 17th century, houses the registry office and wedding room on the first floor. On the 2nd floor is the historic council chamber, which is used for various music and cultural events.

The prestigious entrance to the registry office on the ground floor is approx. 60 cm above the level of the market square and is therefore not barrier-free. The upper floors were also previously only accessible via the main staircase.

In order to make the foyer barrier-free, a ramp was created at the rear of the town hall. A glass lift was installed in the centre of the staircase so that the wedding room and the former council chamber are now also barrier-free. Fire safety requirements were also taken into account so that the historic town hall can continue to be used as a wedding and event venue.

The historic town hall has been available for weddings again since autumn 2019.

The measures were implemented with funds from the urban development programme of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the federal government.

Neutorplatz

Stadtsparkasse Bocholt built on the former Hertie site and relocated its head office from Marktplatz to Neutorplatz. Another commercial building was erected next to it. A new square was created in front of the new buildings. In addition, the open spaces towards the River Aa were widened. The new development meant that these areas could be remodelled and the quality of stay increased.

On the square in front of the Stadtsparkasse, a field of trees with roof plane trees and a field of grasses were created. The borders of these fields can be used for sitting and lingering at the same time. A so-called railing was created along the River Aa, which partially extends over the water surface. More trees have been planted and benches erected in this area. A footpath has been created along the Aa, bordered by beds of grasses. The footpath leads past a footbridge along the River Aa, where further seating has been installed.

The project was completed in April 2021.

Funding was approved for the measure from the urban development programme of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the federal government.

Green space on Weberstrasse

One of the few green spaces in the city centre is located on Weberstrasse. Previously, this consisted mainly of low, flat shrubbery. Two small play areas were also integrated, but some of these had to be removed due to a lack of road safety. Since then, the green space's main function has been to provide access to the retirement home.

As part of the City of the Future 2030+ competition, suggestions and ideas for future use and design were collected at various public events and incorporated into the plans. These primarily related to the opportunity to move around and socialise.

The redesign was completed in 2022 with the help of urban development funding.

Young and old alike will find space and opportunities to play, exercise and rest under the shady trees in the centre of the bustling city centre. The design was complemented by the creation of shrub beds and the installation of raised beds, which are maintained in a joint project between the foundation and a neighbouring daycare centre. The green space offers a play area with a climbing and balancing course, a group swing and a water play area. A large "Hollywood swing", pedal trainers in front of benches and a spring-mounted seesaw bench are arranged along the surrounding circular path and invite children to try them out.

Pollstiege/ Nordwall

The green space measuring just over one hundred square metres at the junction between Pollstiege and Nordwall was redesigned in spring 2020. There is an approximately forty-year-old copper beech tree that was underplanted with evergreen shrubs.

With the aim of creating an intergenerational city centre, the area was developed into a small square that opens up towards the intersection. In particular, older people with a limited radius of action should be able to take a short break here. To this end, benches with armrests and backrests were integrated into the green space. The existing tree was retained and enclosed in a bed as the centre of the square. The existing shrub planting has been replaced by shrubs and perennials. The bicycle parking area at the edge of the square was renovated as part of the project and fitted with modern bicycle racks.