© dpa
Plans for the development of the former Tegel airport site in north-west Berlin are making progress.
At its meeting on Tuesday, the Senate approved an initial draft development plan for a 13-hectare area, as explained by Christian Gaebler (SPD), Senator for Urban Development and Construction. It concerns the entrance area for the planned Urban Tech Republic (UTR) industrial and research park. According to the urban development administration, up to 1,000 companies, start-ups and scientific institutions are to be accommodated there and, among other things, a university campus is to be built.
Among other things, the development plan is intended to enable the conversion of existing buildings at the former airport. He expects the first companies to move into the UTR site in 2027/2028, said Gaebler. Several thousand refugees are currently still housed on the airport site. The refugee accommodation is expected to be used until the end of 2025. However, he assumes that the Urban Tech Republic area will not be affected by this.
Gaebler announced further development plans. The first plan for the new Kurt-Schumacher-Quartier neighbourhood, which is also planned for the former airport site, will be completed "soon" and then submitted to the Senate. "We assume that the first construction measures can begin in 2026."