City unveils 'ESSEN 51: Customs route/Equine-rail corridor' blueprint for urban growth
The city of Essen has initiated a new city development project, Essen 51: Zollstraße/Pferdebahnstraße. This ambitious plan, covering an area of approximately 38.7 hectares, is located in the transition area of the districts Altendorf, Bochold, and Nordviertel, northwest of Essen city center.
Starting from Tuesday, September 16, 2025, the building plan will be publicly displayed both online and physically at the Office for Urban Planning and Building Regulations. The online platform for viewing the plan is available at
The plan aims to create central green areas with an open watercourse, enhancing ecological qualities and connecting the area with surrounding open spaces. This will be achieved by constructing two large public playgrounds, a primary school, and several kindergartens.
In the northern area of the planning, the focus is on high-quality, possibly technology-oriented commerce, including service units, offices, and gastronomy. The new city quarter will have a diverse range of uses, including urban living (approximately 1,700 new housing units), high-quality service and commercial establishments.
The area will feature the Amalie shaft monument as an identification point, a market square, and largely car-free access areas as attractive meeting places. The new city train will cross Essen 51, ensuring a connection to public transport via two new stops.
All interested citizens are invited to participate in the planning process. Statements can be submitted electronically at the city portal - Office for Urban Planning and Building Regulations, or in person at the same location during the display period. The city portal for submitting statements and viewing the plan is also accessible at
The submission period for statements is from September 16 to October 16, 2025. Your input is valuable in shaping the future of Essen 51: Zollstraße/Pferdebahnstraße. Let's work together to create a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive city quarter.
