City planning officer Leuer leaves after 32 years – an era ends in Braunschweig!

City planning officer Leuer leaves after 32 years – an era ends in Braunschweig!

A farewell is imminent: City Planning Officer Heinz-Georg Leuer will resign from his position at the end of 2025. After 32 years in the construction administration of the city of Braunschweig, the 61-year-old announced his decision for personal and health reasons. He said that the step was difficult for him because he enjoyed working on important topics such as urban development, housing and mobility. Mayor Dr. Thorsten Kornblum regrets Leuer's withdrawal and emphasizes the pleasant and constructive cooperation. On July 1st, the city administration will submit a retirement proposal to the Braunschweig City Council, while the council itself will make the final decision based on the upcoming elections.

Heinz-Georg Leuer has been the city planning officer since 2012 and was re-elected in 2020, although his regular term of office does not end until February 2028. Kornblum plans to present a proposal to re-advertise the position to the council on September 16 to initiate the search for a suitable successor. The plan is to publish the call for proposals in the fall so that a large number of applications can be received.

Building Department and Urban Development

The construction department, under Leuer's leadership, played a central role in the coordination of all construction measures in Braunschweig. This includes, among other things, road and bridge construction as well as the implementation of traffic systems, electricity and telecommunications systems. The aim of this work is to coordinate all interests in public street space so that the greatest possible cost-effectiveness and minimal effort for residents are guaranteed.

With a view to future urban development, it is essential to create long-term concepts. This means that aspects such as settlement structure, traffic and the environment must be brought into harmony. Social issues and financial opportunities also play an important role here. Urban planning should not only offer a guiding principle, but also develop sustainable concepts for quality of life and climate protection. In order to meet this challenge, cooperative participation processes that promote citizen engagement are crucial.

In addition, it is emphasized that urban planning processes must be designed to be adaptable in order to accommodate current changes. In this context, digital instruments such as artificial intelligence support planning and ensure more transparency. The need for interdisciplinary teams and the importance of citizen participation are increasing, and integrated funding programs are crucial for the realization of innovative concepts. The coordination of funding programs between the federal and state governments is of great importance here.

The city of Braunschweig is facing significant upheaval. Leuer's resignation will not only affect one person, but has the potential to have an impact on the entire city's development. It remains to be seen what ideas and impulses the successor will bring with them and how they will shape the future of the city.

For more information about the latest developments you can read the news from Regional Today, the city of Braunschweig official website as well as that German Association of Cities and Municipalities track.