Decision in principle to create planning law:  DS 1611330 (opens in a new tab)

Before the administration deals intensively with incoming applications for the creation or amendment of planning law, the City of Bonn Council makes a final decision in principle ("target decision") after preliminary consultations as to whether a development plan procedure should be carried out and, if so, in what form and with what specifications. The target resolution also determines the priority of the procedure. A prerequisite for the target resolution is a declaration of consent to the Bonn building land model signed by the project developers (see section 5 (opens in a new tab)).

On the one hand, the target resolution describes the objective of a project/project and, on the other, is presented with an initial assessment by the administration. Before a project is discussed in depth, the following points are defined in advance as part of the resolution on objectives:

• The objective should generally be followed (or not) because ......
• The procedure is determined (e.g. proposal development plan, full procedure, staged procedure, project-related development plan, etc.).
• Necessary steps to qualify the objective (e.g. multiple commissioning, competition or treatment in the urban planning and design advisory board)
• Requirements, problems or necessary expert opinions already foreseeable at this stage are presented (e.g. need for a Kita, expert opinions on noise, species protection, climate protection, climate adaptation, contaminated sites, drainage, tree population, etc.). Early involvement of the public (in accordance with the "Guidelines for public participation in Bonn";  see item 22. (opens in a new tab))
• Presentation of the project in the context of Bonn's sustainability strategy using the Stage I checklist (see Section 21. (opens in a new tab))
• Proposal of priority

17th statute amending the administrative fee schedule:  DS 1413038 (opens in a new tab)

In connection with the preparation of development plans initiated by a developer, an urban development contract is regularly concluded as a planning agreement in accordance with Section 11 or Section 12 BauGB, in which developers undertake to have urban development planning services and specialist reports prepared by qualified offices at their own expense and to make these available to the city.

Despite the involvement of external service providers by the project developers, the administration regularly has to coordinate and review the work involved. For this reason, administrative support for development plan procedures in Bonn has been subject to a fee since the end of 2014 in accordance with the City of Bonn's administrative fee schedule. The amount of the fee depends on the size of the procedural area (see section 13.6 of the  Bonn fee schedule (opens in a new tab), as of July 2019):

• up to 0.25 ha 2,500 euros
• up to 0.5 ha 3,330 euros
• up to 1 ha 5,400 euros
• up to 2 ha 9,000 euros
• up to 3 ha 11,200 euros
• up to 4 ha 13,300 euros
• up to 5 ha 15,200 euros
• over 5 ha 17,000 euros

The fee is charged pro rata at three different times: The first third after the decision in principle has been made or rejected ("target decision",  see item 3.), the second third after the announcement of the public display of the draft plan and the final third after the decision to adopt the development plan.

Quality assurance in urban land-use planning procedures and urban development contracts (application of amended Annex to 04 AA in accordance with political revision):  DS 231332-04 AA (opens in a new tab).

Quality assurance through urban planning, landscape planning and/or structural engineering competitions has a long tradition in Bonn and has had a significant influence on building quality in recent years.

The following aspects must be taken into account for quality assurance in urban land-use planning procedures and in the drafting of urban development contracts:

1. The Council agrees to the specifications (see appendix) for the implementation of urban development, structural engineering and/or landscape planning quality assurance procedures as part of urban land-use planning procedures, urban development contracts and - where possible - land awards.
2. a. The requirements apply to future development plan procedures in which no planning agreement has yet been signed. Ongoing procedures remain unaffected by the regulations.
   b. They apply retroactively to urban development contracts with statements on quality assurance requirements in building construction or in open spaces, provided that planning has not yet begun.
3. The city will include public participation in urban competition procedures within the framework of the "Guidelines for Planning Competitions (RPW 2013)". The "Participation and awarding" guidelines (German Association of Cities and others) will be taken into account.
4. The RPW competition should be the basic procedure for quality assurance in urban land-use planning procedures and urban development contracts, in accordance with the table in the appendix.
5. Multiple commissions can be used as a procedure in individual cases for highly participatory projects, but should not be the rule. When and whether the procedure is used, as well as the number of participants, should be agreed in advance with politicians.
6. Citizen participation should be ensured to a reasonable extent before and after the competition. Public representation on a jury can be considered when planning open spaces and public areas (squares, green spaces, larger play areas, etc.).

Publication of urban development contracts on bonn.de:  DS 222225 (opens in a new tab).

The urban development contracts agreed between the city and the investor (project developer) have become very important in the creation or amendment of development plans or other building rights. They set out comprehensive regulations, for example with regard to social building quotas, mobility, building standards, development and design. These contracts have become an important part of the political regulation of construction projects. They affect the entire public, which is why the greatest possible transparency is desirable.

At the same time, publication can serve to refute or substantiate any existing assumptions about the content of the contracts. In addition, the comprehensive regulations are often agreed for a long period of time. If these contracts are accessible to the public in a simplified manner, the public can also assume a control function here. In future, the administration will publish urban development contracts concluded in connection with construction projects on bonn.de within four weeks of signing. Personal details will be blacked out.

• Introduction of binding regulations to increase the proportion of publicly subsidized housing construction and the assumption of follow-up costs for social and technical infrastructure in new construction projects with planning law:  DS 1613742EB5 (opens in a new tab).
• Bonn Building Land Model: Specification and modification of the Council resolution on the introduction of binding regulations to increase the proportion of publicly subsidized housing construction and the assumption of follow-up costs for social and technical infrastructure in new construction projects with planning law:  DS 1811574EB5 (opens in a new tab).
• Evaluation and further modification of the Bonn building land model:  DS 201298-04 AA (opens in a new tab).
• Rental model as part of the assumption of follow-up costs for the creation of child daycare places in the Bonn building land model:  DS 210781-03 AA (opens in a new tab).
• Bonn Building Land Model: Specification and modification of resolutions 1613742EB5, 201298-04AA and 210781-03AA:  DS 220278 (opens in a new tab).
• The  guidelines (opens in a new tab) on the application of the Bonn building land model for developers and a supplementary FAQ brochure are available on the City of Bonn's website.

The Bonn Building Land Model regulates in a uniform and binding manner for all residential construction projects covered by it which services project developers must provide in the interests of the general public. One aim of the model is to create a regulated framework for the negotiation of urban development contracts in accordance with Section 11 of the German Building Code (BauGB) and thus create transparency and security for all stakeholders involved in planning. The focus here is that planning beneficiaries undertake in an urban development contract to build 50% of the planned gross floor area of a new construction project for residential purposes under the conditions of subsidized housing construction and to contribute to the costs of creating childcare places in daycare centers.

The Bonn building land model applies to all residential construction projects for which planning law is created as part of an urban land-use planning procedure and for which a corresponding planning agreement was concluded after the deadline for application (March 30, 2017; council resolution on the introduction of a building land model). For the application of the requirements extended by the council resolution of June 28, 2021, the decisive factor is whether an initial political resolution (usually the target resolution,  see section 3. (opens in a new tab)) was passed before June 28, 2021. If this is not the case, the updated conditions apply to the project.

The Bonn Building Land Model is applied to all residential building rights created as part of an urban land-use plan procedure. This is irrespective of whether landowners would have had the right to planning permission for parts of the planned development in the past (prior to the decision to draw up the development plan) in accordance with Section 34 BauGB or whether existing development plans in accordance with Section 30 BauGB have to be revoked or adapted for urban development reasons.

The situation is different for areas already developed for residential purposes. Existing and still existing residential buildings are not taken into account when determining the gross floor area for residential use on which the building land model is based. If planning creates building rights for an existing building that allow the gross floor area to be extended (e.g. an additional storey), the Bonn building land model must be applied to these additional areas. However, if existing buildings are demolished and the corresponding areas are subsequently redeveloped, the regulations of the Bonn Building Land Model are applied to the entire newly created gross floor area of the project.

The Bonn Building Land Model is applied in two stages. It is applied in full if planning law is created for more than 20 residential units or 2,100 m² of living space (measured in terms of the gross floor area of residential space). If planning rights are created for 8 - 20 residential units or 850 to less than 2,100 m² of gross floor area, the quota for subsidized housing construction is reduced to 40% (of which at least 75% must be built using subsidy route A). The obligation to bear all or part of the follow-up costs for the construction of daycare places does not apply.

Upon application, special communal housing projects and cooperative forms of ownership can be exempted from the regulations. In such cases, the owner-occupation of the housing created and the objective of special housing must be guaranteed for at least 10 years. If 100% publicly subsidized housing is built, the city of Bonn waives the collection of financing contributions for the construction of Kita places.

When creating new planning law for residential construction of 20 or more residential units or 2,100 m² or more of gross floor area, 50% of the gross floor area (GFA) of the residential construction project must be built as subsidized rental housing. At least 75% of the subsidized housing must be built under subsidy scheme A, with the remainder under subsidy scheme B.
If the required proportion of subsidized housing is voluntarily exceeded, further cost contributions will be reduced accordingly.

The requirements apply subject to the proviso that the approval of the housing subsidies can be secured. Investor communities can be formed to meet the quotas, provided that this community meets the quotas set out in the previous points on the same planning area.

The planning beneficiaries are obliged to bear the follow-up costs for the creation of places in child daycare facilities to the extent that the need to build these places is triggered by the project.

The following procedure is defined for the obligation of the planning beneficiaries to contribute to the follow-up costs for the creation of child daycare places:

1. Priority:
   
   Option a):
   Provision of a plot of land in the planning area, construction of the daycare facility in accordance with the specifications of the City of Bonn by the planning beneficiaries and sale of the facility to the City of Bonn at market value upon completion.
   The purchase price is reduced by the amount that the planning beneficiaries have to contribute to the costs of creating the number of places required by the housing project.
   
   Option b):
   Provision of a plot of land in the planning area or its neighborhood. Construction of the daycare facility in accordance with the specifications of the City of Bonn by the planning beneficiaries and operation by recognized youth welfare organizations.
   
2. Priority:
   Provision of a plot of land by the planning beneficiaries in the planning area and purchase of the land by the City of Bonn at market value. Construction of the day-care center by the City of Bonn. The planning beneficiaries contribute to the costs for the number of places required by the housing project by reducing the purchase price.
3. Priority:
   In cases where the construction of a facility cannot take place within the planning area for urban development or space reasons, the planning beneficiaries pay a financial contribution to the City of Bonn in accordance with the triggered demand; the City of Bonn uses these funds earmarked for the construction or expansion of child daycare facilities. The facilities financed in this way should preferably be located close to the development area.
   
   The construction of a daycare center must be carried out in accordance with the specifications of the City of Bonn. The Office for Children, Youth and Families will provide investors with corresponding guidelines.

An appropriateness test of the services of the planning beneficiaries agreed in an urban development contract is carried out and an appropriateness limit is set on the basis of a flat-rate total yield of the residential construction project determined for the location. The appropriateness limit is set at 30% of the lump-sum total income determined.

If the sum of the burdens for the planning beneficiaries described by the Bonn building land model exceeds the appropriateness limit, the services to be agreed in the urban development contract are reduced to such an extent that the appropriateness limit is complied with.

Binding urban development contracts must be concluded with the project developers benefiting from the planning to ensure that the requirements resulting from the Bonn building land model are met before the articles of association are adopted.

The existing regulations on the assumption of planning costs, costs for expert opinions, costs for environmental compensation and replacement measures and development costs by the planning beneficiaries remain unaffected by the building land model. The administration documents that the legal requirements are complied with when concluding the urban development contract, particularly with regard to the prohibition of coupling.

Ratio of residential construction to space for offices and services:  DS 1512547 (opens in a new tab).

The number of commuters to Bonn, especially by car, must be significantly reduced in the future for economic and ecological reasons. The aim here should also be to reduce traffic noise. Accordingly, when drawing up and amending development plans, in particular project-related development plans, for the creation of service and office space, the provision of housing for the people working there should be taken into account in the development area, if possible, in order to reduce destination and source traffic.

Among other things, the implementation of company housing concepts is conceivable in this context.

Family-friendly housing in multi-storey residential buildings:  DS 230568-02 AA (opens in a new tab).

The limited availability of building land in Bonn's urban area and persistently unfavorable conditions for construction financing mean that fewer and fewer families are able to realize their dream of owning a single-family home.

In order to provide some of this important population group for Bonn's urban society with an adequate housing offer in Bonn, future plans should focus more on family-friendly housing in multi-storey residential buildings.

The following points should be taken into account:

1. In future planning, more housing for families with children should be provided. In particular, housing for families with several children should be planned.
2. The aim is for 20% of residential use to be particularly family-friendly housing.
3. For implementation, "house-in-house apartments" are to be offered not only as owner-occupied apartments, but also as rental apartments.
4. Green spaces should be designed with children in mind and be primarily for the use of all residents.
5. The Bonn building land model will be applied to the family-friendly housing.

• Energy efficiency standards in new buildings:  DS 1512547 (opens in a new tab).
• "KfW-40 (sic, now EG/EH 40) standard for municipal buildings":  DS 211039 (opens in a new tab).
• Municipal properties on the road to climate neutrality and sustainability:  DS 212355 (opens in a new tab).

For the sale of municipal building plots, urban development contracts and project-related development plans, as well as for the sale of land by developers commissioned by the city for the construction of residential and non-residential buildings, the Efficiency House or Efficiency Building 55 standard applies in relation to the requirements of the Building Energy Act (GEG 2020,  DS 1512547 (opens in a new tab)).

The energy efficiency requirements for third parties are currently being updated against the backdrop of the climate plan profile 4.2.2.3 "Energy guidelines" and are expected to be presented for consultation at the beginning of 2025.

The Bonn Municipal Building Management plans and implements new buildings and renovations of existing buildings that are submitted to the committee or the Bonn City Council for resolution after June 23, 2021, taking into account the Efficiency Building Standard-40, insofar as economic and technical conditions permit their implementation in compliance with the principle of proportionality (DS 211039 (opens in a new tab)).

In addition, the Municipal Building Management Bonn follows the following criteria when planning new construction, expansion and renovation projects of the City of Bonn for which the design planning phase has not yet been completed and which are submitted to the Operating Committee or the City Council of Bonn for resolution after January 26, 2022 (DS 212355 (opens in a new tab)):

1. A life cycle assessment and life cycle analysis of the energy supply and building construction (including production, repair and disposal) is required by the SGB during the planning process and is used to make decisions and optimize planning.
2. The total energy requirement must be planned and implemented sustainably, taking into account energy and CO2-saving concepts.
3. Measures to increase energy gains beyond the building's own energy requirements should be taken into account where economically justifiable.
4. Building materials:
   a. Sustainable building materials with lower greenhouse gas emissions and lower other negative environmental impacts should be given preference.
   b. A high level of recyclability of the materials used (dismantling, separation and recycling) is aimed for.
   c. Recycled materials should be used wherever possible to support the recycling cycle.
   d. The following materials are to be avoided:
   - Organic insulation and building materials based on fossil raw materials (e.g. EPS or XPS foams).
   - Composite materials that cannot be separated and materials that are difficult to recycle
   - Products containing PVC
5. The planning is aimed at a high degree of flexibility and robustness as well as a long service life of the buildings, which enables conversions and other uses.
6. Certification for sustainable construction, e.g. according to the "Assessment System for Sustainable Building" (BNB) of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community in at least the second-highest category, is applied to projects with a financial volume of € 15 million or more.

In the case of development plans, the energy concept based on a comparative analysis of various options must be available as a binding basis for the political decision on energy supply and the energy efficiency standard by the time the resolution on the statutes is passed at the latest.

As a minimum, the key points of the concept should be established and the options still to be investigated should be named for the public presentation.

The energy supply to be realized and the energy efficiency standard to be complied with are stipulated in the implementation or heritable building right contract or in the urban development contract. Prior to the start of construction, proof must be provided unsolicited by submitting the energy savings certificate together with the building application. The implementation of the requirements must be verified within six months of commissioning by submitting the energy performance certificate based on the energy characteristics of the completed building (see GEG § 80 (1)).

Climate offensive of the City of Bonn:  DS 9500876 (opens in a new tab).

In 1995, the city of Bonn adopted a municipal program entitled "Bonn Climate Initiative" to reduce the emission of climate-impacting gases. An energy concept is to be drawn up, which is to be coordinated with the administration (Office for the Environment and Urban Greenery, Department 67/4) at an early stage in the process.

For all projects relevant to energy policy (development plans, larger individual properties, etc.), the topic of "energy supply" is listed in the explanatory reports with the following sub-items:

• Proposed energy supply for the area/property (incl. justification)
• Measures or stipulations to reduce energy requirements
• Potential analysis for the use of renewable energy sources

• Solar obligation in new buildings - planning law instruments:  DS 210919 (opens in a new tab)
• Solar obligation in new buildings:  DS 201344 (opens in a new tab)

With the resolution "Climate emergency and implementation of climate measures" (DS 200016 (opens in a new tab)) of the main committee of May 7, 2020, the administration was commissioned to differentiate and qualify measures and then submit them for resolution. In addition to thermal waste recycling, the use of sewage gas, the potential of which is largely exploited, and the use of geothermal energy, solar radiation energy is the only renewable energy source in Bonn with significant potential that can also be used economically.

1. For all new construction projects for which urban development contracts are concluded with the City of Bonn as part of binding urban land-use planning, the contractual partners must be obliged to install photovoltaic systems on the roofs of the buildings to be erected.
2. The basic obligation covers all urban development plan procedures under paragraph (1) that are newly initiated after the resolution of this submission by the Council and all ongoing procedures in which the public interpretation has not yet been decided at the time of the resolution on the solar obligation.
3. The obligation does not apply

1. if the contractual partner proves that the installation and operation of a PV system is not possible from an economic point of view. Proof must be provided using a standardized calculation method.
2. in the case of proof that the heat supply of the building is at least partially provided by the installation of a solar thermal system. This also applies in particular if the heat supply is provided by the prescribed proportion of renewable energies by means of solar radiant heat in accordance with the Building Energy Act GEG.
3. if reasons of monument protection stand in the way.
4. if the necessary technical requirements are not met or if there are justified, in particular urban planning objectives that prevent the installation of PV systems in individual cases.

The draft resolution is based on the council resolution of the same name "Solar obligation in new buildings" of September 1, 2020 (DS 201344 (opens in a new tab)) and modifies its paragraphs 2 and 3. Paragraph 2 of this resolution provided for a legal examination of the obligation to install PV systems for new buildings when concluding urban development contracts and for project-related development plans. The result of this examination basically states that an obligation to install PV systems is possible via the "urban development contract" instrument in accordance with the German Building Code (BauGB), provided the measure is appropriate.
Appropriateness is understood to mean, in particular, economic efficiency under the framework condition that new construction projects for which building rights are created should contribute to the implementation of the city's climate protection goals. However, following a legal review, the administration does not consider the stipulation in development plans in accordance with Section 9 (1) No. 23b BauGB to be a suitable instrument.

Green roofs in Bonn:  DS 0912064EB10 (opens in a new tab).

When drawing up development plans, a green roof is specified for flat roofs and low-sloped roofs (< 25°) of buildings with a roof area > 200 m², provided there are no design or functional reasons to the contrary.

If there is no green roof, solar energy systems (photovoltaics and/or solar collectors) are to be installed on the corresponding roof surfaces - if the orientation is suitable. For roofs with an inclination of up to 5°, the construction of solar green roofs is expected (see 13 (opens in a new tab)).

The FLL Green Roof Guideline is the standard set of rules for the planning and implementation of green roofs. For extensive green roofs that are not combined with PV systems, a substrate thickness of at least 10 - 15 cm with a maximum runoff coefficient of 0.4 must be achieved.

The green roof must be permanently preserved and professionally maintained.

In special individual cases, there may be exceptions to the scope of application described. These must be justified in detail by the administration and submitted to the responsible committees for a decision.

Target resolution on climate adaptation:  DS 231893-01 AA (opens in a new tab).

According to the BauGB, climate protection and climate adaptation issues must already be taken into account in urban land-use planning. The Bonn target resolution also describes the following requirements:

1. Heat prevention - preserving the climate functions of areas with high and very high protection requirements as far as possible and reducing thermal stress hotspots, particularly in areas with action priorities 1 and 2 according to the heat planning information map (DS 231894 (opens in a new tab)).
2. Drought prevention - strengthening the natural water cycle and increasing the proportion of decentralized use of rainwater, especially in the context of upcoming planning projects and in focus areas with increased priority for action in accordance with the sponge city concept (DS 230255-02 (opens in a new tab)).
3. Heavy rainfall prevention - reduction of potential risk factors in order to minimize damage caused by flooding as a result of heavy rainfall events. Improving the flooding situation by implementing measures and protecting the current flooding scenario against deterioration of the situation, in accordance with heavy rain and flood hazard maps.
4. Vulnerability - Reduction of heat exposure by means of behavioral and proportional prevention measures to reduce heat-related illnesses and deaths. Priority should be given to measures for vulnerable population groups, but also people who are exposed to high levels of heat, e.g. at events, during sport, in their homes or due to their occupation.
5. Use of synergies between the defined objectives and with the areas of climate protection and biodiversity Climate adaptation is one of many issues that need to be weighed up. The objectives listed therefore do not trigger any absolute requirements or taboo areas for development projects. However, the resolution on objectives is intended to reaffirm the importance of climate adaptation measures, particularly in priority areas in accordance with the existing planning principles for heat, drought and heavy rainfall prevention.

Decision to create a sponge city concept:  DS 230255-02 (opens in a new tab).

The objectives set out in the sponge city concept are to be taken into account wherever possible in all spatially effective projects.

Above all, the city of Bonn intends to focus more on the natural water cycle. Precipitation water should not be drained away as a priority, but used and/or stored locally (decentralized) wherever possible.

Chapter 3 of the sponge city concept describes the known and suitable building blocks that are suitable for drought prevention. The specific objective is to reduce heat stress through evaporation, to better arm vegetation against drought and to exploit synergy potentials, e.g. to promote biodiversity, heavy rainfall prevention or climate protection. In addition, the use of rainwater and service water is also desirable in terms of a more economical use of water resources and is also required by law in some areas.

• Coalition motion: Priority for green roofs and photovoltaics:  DS 221020 (opens in a new tab)
• Combination of PV systems with green roofs:  DS 212054 (opens in a new tab)

On September 16, 2021, in connection with the resolution on the solar obligation, the Bonn City Council decided to commission the administration to clarify whether the obligation to combine green roofs and the installation of photovoltaic modules can apply in principle - subject to economic viability.

In all procedures mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (2) of the resolution "Solar obligation in new buildings - planning law instruments" (DS 210919 (opens in a new tab)), the administration will, in consultation with the investors, generally pursue the goal of combining PV systems with green roofs, provided it is appropriate for the use in question.

If investors do not directly agree to a combination, but make it subject to the economic viability proviso, the investor must prepare an economic viability calculation for the specific application. Due to the various possible combinations of PV and greening, this case-specific review is preferred to a model-based comparison with defined initial conditions. If such a review is carried out, the result will be communicated to politicians as part of the land-use planning process - at the latest by the time of the public consultation.

Roofs up to a maximum inclination of 5° must be at least extensively greened and combined with photovoltaics. In the case of a combination overlapping in terms of area (i.e. in the form of extensive roof greening, which is intended to run continuously under the respective system for the use of solar radiation energy), the substrate layer must be 8-10 cm with a runoff coefficient of 0.5 (or less).

The combination is also permissible as a separate variant in terms of area (i.e. in the form of an arrangement of the system for the use of solar radiation energy next to the green roof; an equal division of the roof area for solar energy use and green roofs should be aimed for). In this case, the green roof must be designed at least as a simple intensive green roof (built-up thickness > 15 cm) or as a retention roof. The green roof must be maintained in a permanently functional manner - the FLL guidelines for the planning, construction and maintenance of green roofs must also be observed.

Facade greening of buildings:  DS 1813053NV5 (opens in a new tab),  DS 200165 (opens in a new tab)

With the resolution of 14 May 2019 on the "Greening the facades of buildings" (DS 1813053NV5 (opens in a new tab)), the Bonn City Council commissioned the administration to examine issues relating to green roofs and facades in a differentiated manner and to make a recommendation to promote the implementation of green buildings in Bonn (by planning means).

The following options for promoting the greening of building façades based on the results of the study can be requested by the administration:

• Specification of façade greening in development plans for suitable construction projects - for example those with large, windowless façades (e.g. commercial buildings, retail outlets, sports halls) - in addition to the already standardized specification of roof greening.
• Case-by-case examination of façade greening as part of project-related development plans and stipulation if suitable.
• A statement is made in this regard in each planning procedure.

Protection of animals from light immissions:  DS 0512894NV4 (opens in a new tab).

When drawing up development plans, the interests of environmental protection, including nature conservation and landscape conservation, must be taken into account in accordance with Section 1 (6) No. 7 of the German Building Code (BauGB). These include effects on animals, plants, soil, water, air, climate and biodiversity or environmental effects on people and their health.

To ensure that environmental concerns are taken into account in a legally secure manner, an environmental assessment with an environmental report in accordance with Section 2 (4) BauGB must be carried out when drawing up development plans in the full procedure.

In addition to the environmental and nature conservation requirements under building law, directly applicable nature conservation regulations must also be observed.

Pursuant to Section 1a (3) BauGB, the likely significant impairments to the landscape and the performance and functionality of the ecosystem (interventions in nature and the landscape) must be determined and assessed as part of the impact regulation under building law. When weighing up the impacts under building law (Section 1 (7) BauGB), special consideration must be given to any likely significant impairments to nature and the landscape as well as measures to avoid and compensate for them.

In the case of unavoidable impairments, the necessary measures for compensation are implemented through suitable stipulations in development plans in accordance with Section 9 BauGB. The exact measures and implementation details, if not illustrated in the stipulations, are set out in an urban development contract.

The determination of the impairments, their effects and the comparison of the land value (balancing according to LANUV) before and after the planned development must be summarized in a land conservation report. This can form part of the environmental report. The implementation of the compensation measures is binding and must be planned, implemented and maintained for the contractually agreed duration by the party responsible for the intervention.

Early consultation with the lower nature conservation authority is required.

In all development plan procedures as well as in building permit procedures and construction projects that do not require a building permit (e.g. demolition projects), the access prohibitions of special species protection pursuant to Section 44 (1) of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG) must always be observed.

Accordingly, it is prohibited, for example, to catch, injure or kill animals of specially protected species, to remove, damage or destroy their developmental forms (e.g. bird eggs) and breeding and resting places (e.g. nests, niches on buildings, tree hollows, etc.) from the wild and to significantly disturb strictly protected animal species and European bird species, for example during their breeding, rearing or wintering periods. The access ban also applies to specially protected wild plants.

In order to observe and avoid the prohibitions under species protection law, a species protection assessment (ASP) must be carried out, in which the plant-, construction- and operational-related effects of construction projects on protected animal and plant species relevant to planning are examined and evaluated in detail. The ASP is a two-stage assessment procedure. In stage 1 (preliminary assessment), the study area is first defined, the range of species likely to be affected is determined and it is clarified whether and, if so, for which species conflicts under species protection law may arise due to the effects of the project (impact factors).
If potential conflicts under species protection law are identified in the preliminary assessment, an in-depth assessment is carried out in stage 2 by means of a special expert report, in the course of which avoidance measures or early compensatory measures (so-called CEF measures) are designed to prevent the occurrence of prohibitions under species protection law. The implementation of these measures is mandatory. Further information on species conservation assessments can be found in the " Methodological handbook for species conservation assessments in NRW (opens in a new tab)" (Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture, Nature Conservation and Consumer Protection, 2021).

In connection with species conservation conflicts caused by construction projects, the possible effects of light on animal species (especially birds and insects) must also be taken into account.

When creating a lighting concept for new properties, for example, the operation of luminaires that shine upwards beyond the horizontal should be avoided. Lighting should also be critically examined when redesigning outdoor and green spaces and, if necessary, conditions and measures for species protection should be specified (DS no.: (0512894NV4 (opens in a new tab)) / (9234/2021) / (9235/2021) / (9236/2021) / (9237/2021)).

Large glass surfaces represent a further significant potential conflict for birds under species protection law. Bird strikes on glass façades are demonstrably one of the most significant anthropogenic causes of death for native birds. If the installation of unsuitable glass façades leads to a "significantly increased risk of killing" for native birds, the prohibition under Section 44 (1) BNatSchG is fulfilled. This may result in costly dismantling measures (DS no. 1410305EB4 (opens in a new tab)).

To minimize the risk factors posed by glass surfaces, demonstrably effective measures can already be taken on site. The following measures are suitable for this:

• Making glass surfaces visible by means of highly effective markings (horizontal/vertical stripes, dotted lines, individual patterns, sandblasting),
• Use of alternative translucent, non-transparent materials (frosted glass, ornamental glass, glass blocks, sandblasting),
• Avoidance of large glass fronts, as well as views and corridors.

Stick-on bird silhouettes are ineffective and offer no protection against bird strikes on glass surfaces.

Further recommendations and practical examples on how to deal with birds in the façade and lighting design of buildings can be found in the guide  "Bird-friendly building with glass and light". (opens in a new tab)

When drawing up development plans or other construction projects, designated nature conservation areas (e.g. nature conservation areas or landscape conservation areas) as well as fauna-flora-habitat areas protected under European law (FFH areas) or bird sanctuaries (Natura 2000 network of protected areas) must be taken into account.

For construction projects planned in the spatial context of such protected areas, the protective purpose and prohibitions of the corresponding protected area ordinances or the protective purpose and conservation objectives of Natura 2000 areas must be taken into account and any conflicts that may arise must be avoided.

The city of Bonn has its own municipal tree protection statutes with the aim of providing special protection for trees in inner city areas.
Trees serve to ensure the performance and functionality of the ecosystem and thus, above all, to improve the climate in residential areas. They therefore also have an important welfare function for the quality of life of Bonn's citizens. Furthermore, they should be preserved and maintained due to their rarity, uniqueness and beauty as well as to enliven and structure the townscape and landscape. According to the tree protection statutes, all public and private trees are protected from a defined trunk circumference.

It is forbidden to remove, destroy, damage or significantly alter the structure of protected trees. Upon application, the Lower Nature Conservation Authority can grant an exception or exemption from the prohibitions of the statutes. As a rule, permission to remove trees protected by the statutes is linked to the requirement of replacement planting or a compensation payment. When drawing up development plans, the protected trees in the planning area must be recorded and documented. The preservation of protected trees must be given special consideration in the further development planning and in the consideration under building law. The application for permission to remove trees protected by the statutes is made as part of the planning permission process.

Further information on the tree protection statutes and the application process can be found on the  City of Bonn's website (opens in a new tab).

The city of Bonn aims to preserve and protect natural and near-natural soils.

In urban areas, soils are a balancing factor in extreme weather conditions, particularly due to their ability to absorb and store water and release it again in dry phases.

This ability helps to ensure that the people who live in the settlement area feel comfortable.

As early as the planning stage of a construction project, the aim can be to minimize the sealing of surfaces and thus preserve as much soil as possible. During the actual construction phase, the soil must be protected from compaction in particular. This can already be achieved when organizing the construction sites and construction site traffic or through technical measures such as covering the roadways.

If large areas are affected or if there are designated soils worthy of protection, the Lower Soil Protection Authority can order soil monitoring during construction.

• Façade breeders:  DS 1610366 (opens in a new tab)
• Nesting aids for birds and bats:  DS 1713709 (opens in a new tab)

With their large number of different habitats and microhabitats, cities are generally places with a high level of local and regional biodiversity. However, if biodiversity is not given sufficient consideration in urban development, it will decline. Numerous building breeders, such as house sparrows, house martins and swifts, as well as bats, have become rare in urban areas and in many cases are on the Red List of endangered species. This decline is partly due to the fact that these species do not have sufficient nesting sites, habitats and food supplies.

The lack of nesting sites is mainly due to increasing renovation measures on buildings. In order to protect the climate and reduce energy costs, more and more houses are undergoing energy upgrades. This includes thermal renovations such as facade insulation. These modernizations lead to completely sealed and smooth façades with seamlessly flush surfaces. Such surfaces are uninhabitable for building-breeding bird species or bats. They use niches and cracks in façades to build their nests or breeding sites. Due to the loss of structure and the associated loss of these niches as nesting and roosting sites, some bird and bat species are experiencing massive problems.

The design of building exteriors also has a significant influence on the availability of nesting sites, habitats and feeding grounds and therefore on the biodiversity of species and habitats in the city. In addition to the negative effects on the inner-city microclimate, decentralized water retention and soil functions, the sealing of surfaces in particular has a demonstrably negative impact on biodiversity in the city, as such areas do not provide any habitat functions for animals and plants. The increasing decline in biodiversity (in particular the decline in the number of species and individuals of insects as a central factor in the ecological food chain) is further exacerbated by outdoor and green spaces designed in a non-natural way (e.g. multi-cut lawns, non-native or exotic plants, conifers, rock or gravel gardens, etc.).

In order to protect building breeders and bats and to avoid delaying construction work, the Lower Nature Conservation Authority should be informed as early as possible about planned work in the roof or façade area if there are known occurrences on the building and for all buildings with gaps in the façade. Together with the owners, procedures can then be found to ensure both the protection of the animals and the smooth running of the work.

In connection with upcoming renovation measures, the administration points out the possibilities for protecting and creating new habitats for animals. This includes breeding and nesting sites for species that use buildings and their surroundings as breeding sites and outdoor facilities with suitable food and habitat structures. Further information on this can be found in the BUND information brochure " Species protection during building renovations - A brochure for architects, energy consultants, building owners and the building trade (opens in a new tab)".

To preserve and promote biodiversity in the city of Bonn, outdoor areas should always be landscaped using native plant species and designed to be as natural and structurally rich as possible (e.g. planting areas with flowering and fruit-bearing plants to encourage wild bees and other insects, creating habitat structures for animal and plant species, such as piles of stones, open ground areas with patchy vegetation, dry stone walls, nesting boxes, "insect hotels").

Careful maintenance measures (e.g. adapted mowing times) should be used when maintaining outdoor areas and the use of mineral fertilizers, peat and pesticides should be avoided. The Lower Nature Conservation Authority will be happy to provide advice in this regard.

So-called "gravel gardens" are not permitted. Soil sealing is to be limited to what is absolutely necessary. Grass pavers are preferable to asphalt or full-surface paving wherever possible. The only exceptions are necessary access roads, parking lots and parking spaces for garbage cans.

• Wastewater disposal concept:  DS 1712151 (opens in a new tab)
• Sustainable rainwater management:  DS 201385 (opens in a new tab)
• Statutes of the City of Bonn on the drainage of properties, wastewater disposal and connection to the public wastewater system (drainage statutes):  DS 1713264 (opens in a new tab)

For planned new development areas, the possibilities for infiltration or local water discharge and retention are investigated at an early stage. Hydrogeological reports must be commissioned as early as the development planning stage in order to exploit the possibilities of local rainwater disposal.

To ensure that the risk of flooding in existing buildings is known in good time and that private precautions can be taken, the Civil Engineering Department has had appropriate studies carried out for the entire city area and published the results online in  heavy rain and flood hazard maps (opens in a new tab) for the public.

For new development plans to be drawn up, the potential risk of heavy rainfall is now assessed during the initial planning stages and the buildability of areas is evaluated. Depending on the circumstances, the level of detail of the planning before the development plan becomes legally binding is significantly increased and a final flood assessment is carried out using a surface model for rainfall that statistically occurs every 100 years to check the overall planning.

According to the drainage regulations, each property to be connected must be connected to the public sewer system with its own connection pipe and without any technical connection to the neighboring properties.

If the property is divided or subdivided, the new properties must therefore each have their own connection to the public sewer. Joint drainage of the properties via a connection collector pipe is not permitted. If necessary, the rights of use and maintenance for connection pipes on the private properties must be secured in the land register by the property owners.

The creation or modification of the connection to the public sewage system requires the prior consent of the city.

In addition to the early examination of infiltration, local water discharge and retention in the event of heavy rainfall, the retention of rainwater for local reuse should be examined. Intermediate storage in cisterns, retention roofs and comparable storage areas can relieve the drainage routes (infiltration, discharge) and allow the rainwater to be used locally for the irrigation of local green roofs and green spaces.

This can contribute to sustainable local cooling of the urban space through evaporation and thus create a pleasant local climate (keywords "water-sensitive urban development" and "sponge city").

• Council resolution on "Sustainable building":  DS 190441 (opens in a new tab)
• Council resolution on "Sustainable urban land-use planning: introduction and application of an inspection question checklist":  DS 220501-01 (opens in a new tab)

Triggered by the council resolution of November 7, 2019 (DS 190441 (opens in a new tab)) on "Sustainable Building", the administration has developed a review scheme for the area of urban land-use planning, which takes up the successive resolutions in the planning process (target resolution, resolution on early participation and decision on public disclosure) and formulates corresponding questions in the form of a checklist in line with the respective planning status.

This is intended to ensure that the goals of Bonn's sustainability strategy, the city's mission statement on climate protection and climate adaptation as well as the principles of multiple inner development are kept in mind at all planning stages of a project and anchored in the actions of the administration and politicians.

This enables a comprehensive view of the impact of a project at an early stage.

In all phases of a development plan procedure that are submitted to the political bodies for decision-making, a corresponding checklist of questions is answered (stages I to III). This makes it clear whether a project has no, rather negative or rather positive effects with regard to the objectives of the sustainability strategy.

The assessment also shows where there are conflicting objectives. However, the sustainability assessment is not a "sustainability certificate". The sustainability assessment therefore does not make the decision for or against a project, but is part of every draft resolution in the development plan process and is therefore an additional decision-making aid for the political bodies, which is particularly necessary in the event of conflicting objectives between different interests.

A project may still be important for achieving other goals in other areas of action of the sustainability strategy despite having a negative impact on one goal of the sustainability strategy.

The checklist is evaluated and updated at regular intervals.

Resolution on the guidelines for citizen participation Bonn:  DS 1410584 (opens in a new tab)

Guidelines for citizen participation have been in place in Bonn since 2014. These guidelines set out binding criteria for citizen participation, according to which citizen participation takes place and which form the basis for transparent, reliable and continuous citizen participation. The guidelines thus set the framework for urban participation processes in Bonn.

The Bonn Citizen Participation Guidelines supplement the existing legal regulations on participation (e.g. in the Building Code). They are in line with the provisions of the North Rhine-Westphalia Municipal Code. The responsibilities and constitutional rights of the Mayor of Bonn, the City Council, its committees and the district councils remain unaffected by these guidelines.

The  Guidelines for Citizen Participation in (opens in a new tab) Bonn apply to projects of the City of Bonn. Projects" are important plans and projects of the city - for example in the areas of urban planning and urban development, culture, social affairs, trade and commerce - that are of direct spatial or developmental importance or have a lasting impact on the economic, social and cultural well-being of the residents (see Section 23 (1) of the GO NRW).

All generally significant plans and projects (cf. Section 23 (1) GO NRW) that lead to a public decision in the council or its committees are placed on the project list. The range of content and topics that can be the subject of citizen participation is therefore very broad and extends to almost all municipal fields of action.

The Bonn Citizen Participation Guidelines are mandatory for projects for which the City of Bonn is the project sponsor. Projects by companies in which the city has a stake or by private project sponsors can also be of direct spatial and developmental importance, have a lasting impact on the economic, social and cultural well-being of the local population or meet the criteria of the Bonn Citizen Participation Guidelines (see Bonn Citizen Participation Guidelines, section C1, p. 14). In these cases, the responsible bodies of the municipal companies or private project developers are recommended to implement the projects voluntarily on the basis of the Bonn Citizen Participation Guidelines and to involve the residents.

In the case of urban development contracts with private investors for projects as described above, the Mayor of Bonn or the Council should suggest the application of the Bonn Citizen Participation Guidelines.

This core element of the Citizen Participation Guidelines serves to inform citizens about projects and plans of the City of Bonn at an early stage.

The aim of informing the public at an early stage is to ensure that projects can be discussed and concepts can be developed together with citizens. The projects are shown on an overview map of Bonn so that all interested citizens can find out where and what projects are planned in their immediate vicinity or in the entire city area and which participation procedures will take place.

The  list of projects (opens in a new tab) is updated and expanded on an ongoing basis and a printed version is also published regularly.

Citizens' petition "Radentscheid Bonn":  DS 202321. (opens in a new tab)

In the case of new residential construction projects, the requirements for implementing the cycling decision must be observed in particular when creating private traffic areas. The requirements relate specifically to the design of the pedestrian and cycle traffic areas on the private traffic areas associated with the respective residential construction projects.