Linz - NbS as a motor for urban growth
The city’s Grünlandkonzept (green space strategy) provides detailed strategic indications for local land use and infrastructure planning (Stadt Linz, 2013). Enhancing and protecting urban green areas is seen as a way of increasing the city’s attractiveness, and will also form part of the upcoming transformation of the city harbour area. Linz AG, a holding company owned by the municipality, is planning to position the harbour on the Danube river as an important regional and international business location, inter alia by means of intensive greening for parts of the area (Masterplan Linzer Hafen, 2017).
NbS policies in the city of Linz are driven by the Urban Development (Stadtplanung) Department, which incorporates biodiversity protection strategies in urban planning goals. Activities are planned using statutory planning instruments, without seeking systemic innovations.
Although NbS are not the explicit focus, the city follows, throughout its urban planning strategy, a greening approach which results in nature-based solutions to address development problems.
NbS project 1: Landschaftspark Bindermichl-Spallerhof
The city has created a landscaped park area of 8 ha over a highway tunnel. The area is divided into different functional zones, including playgrounds and sports facilities. It serves as a recreation space for two...
Urban greening used by the city of Linz as a strategy for urban regeneration and growth makes the management of conflicts between investment interests and the goals of protecting biodiversity and green spaces potentially difficult to manage. Although the strategy creates qualities which are crucial for attracting economic activities, competition for land, especially in the inner city areas, can lead to such conflicts, which then need to be resolved without compromising the overall goal of restarting urban growth.
The solarCity development has benefitted from national funding as well as from ERDF funds.
Gunther Kolouch, Magistrat der Landeshauptstadt Linz (Linz City Administration)
