Werne advances commercial and residential urban development plans

The city of Werne is undergoing significant urban redevelopment and strategic planning. The municipal administration has proposed a new commercial strategy that shifts focus toward a 47-hectare site south of the A1 motorway near the truck stop. This move aims to replace existing locations at Nordlippestraße and the Gersteinwerk, which are being phased out as regional cooperation sites for large-scale industrial and commercial developments. The proposal is subject to review by the Regionalverband Ruhr (RVR) and will be decided by the city council in October.

Simultaneously, plans for the St. Johannes district are taking shape one year after the demolition of the St. Johannes church. The new residential concept includes approximately 70 housing units, featuring multi-family homes and two senior living communities. To meet diverse needs, roughly 50 percent of the units are intended to be publicly subsidized. While the church building was demolished due to irreparable structural damage, the bell tower will be preserved as a central landmark and integrated into the new neighborhood's open spaces. The project also aims to incorporate social services for youth, seniors, and refugees.