Hambach surface facilities and lignite bunker: 120-hectare future site with lake view
120 hectares of development area with lake view
With a total area of around 120 hectares, the development site ‘Hambach Surface Facilities and Lignite Bunker’ offers a unique opportunity for a variety of settlements on the lake edge of the future Hambach pit lake, which will cover around 3,500 hectares.
Due to its previous operational use and the resulting infrastructure and technical connections, the site is predestined for electricity-intensive industrial, commercial and service companies. The future proximity to the lake sets the site apart as a unique attraction for leisure and tourism activities and makes it a magnet for employees and visitors.
Site advantages
The site is well connected to the supra-local road network. Connections to the A 4 and A 44 motorways are 3.5 and 19km away respectively, meaning that the cities of Düsseldorf, Cologne and Aachen can be reached within half an hour. The existing siding to the RWE works railway offers the potential for a direct rail connection for passenger and especially freight transport
Broad range of development opportunities with potential for expansion
The structural concept that has been drawn up, which sets out the utilisation vision for the 120-hectare development site with a focus on job creation, is supported by local and state politicians, the mining company as the site owner and civil society in equal measure. The regional plan, which is currently being revised, already takes into account the subsequent structural utilisation of the operational areas in accordance with the structural concept described below.
Depending on the operational requirements of the opencast mine, a gradual clearance and development of the entire site is planned, whereby property layouts can be flexible and customised.
The so-called ‘starter area’ covers around 14 hectares and will be made available for settlements first. The main access route to the 120-hectare site runs through it, which means it can be described as the ‘entrance’ and initial area for the entire site. The area is roughly divided into two sections: an urban-looking area with services and (semi-) public uses and a commercial/industrial area.
First area, new opportunities: ‘Starter area’ initiates sustainable structural change
The ‘starter area’ is currently still used for operational purposes as a storage area, contractor base and helipad. It has excellent infrastructure links to its surroundings and is accessible via the main access route to the current operating site. The area is tangent to railway tracks and therefore has a potential connection to the public rail system. There is no soil contamination.
The development plan procedure for the starter area is to be initiated in 2025, thus opening up the opportunity to secure the first areas of this special development site today and play a key role in shaping the design of this future site.
Contact details
Dr. Jasmin Matros
RWE Power AG
Phone +49 2271.70.3326
jasmin.matros@rwe.com
Inga Driller
NRW.URBAN
Phone +49 211.54238.231
inga.driller@nrw-urban.de