It is literally an "A" location on the small river Aa, close to a lake and not far from the city centre, 25 hectares. Years ago you could only see decaying chimney remains, a derelict spinning mill and old machine halls, which were used as warehouses at best. Bocholt's city administration, however, recognized the potential for urban development. Would a conversion into a new urban quarter be successful? After all, the interests of the various owners were involved. With the regional association's plan to develop museal exhibition spaces on the history of the textile industry there, the ball could be set in motion for the urban development project. The city successfully applied for the Regionale, a regional structural support programme, with the project in 2016.

The tone was set by the regional association ("Landschaftsverband") Lippe Westfalen with the industrial museum TextilWerk in a historical building. After initial discussions had already taken place in 2001, the city planning office, property owners, a company and local politicians met in 2008 to collaborate in a workshop envisioning the future of the city. One year later, the first spatial planning ideas for KuBAaI were on the table. KuBAaI was finally selected as one of the leading projects of the Regionale.

In a participatory process with the local population, the ideas were further expanded, the financing possibilities diversified and private investment won. The city capped its own budget for the project.

The urban development project KuBAaI succeeds in anchoring the important dimensions of sustainability, social and environmentally compatible development, in the cityscape. Urban cohesion has benefited from the exemplary participatory planning process and strengthens Bocholt's identity on the basis of its industrial heritage. The financing structure has even been applauded by the Association of Taxpayers of North Rhine-Westphalia. Bocholt shows how a city can succeed in setting impulses and rationally counter the lure of mere financial benefits.

The dream of a second life for the disused fabric and yarn production factories in Bocholt is anything but irrational.

Author: Sabine Hammer