Bahnstadt is a new district in Heidelberg, Germany, developed on the former freight and marshaling yard and former US military land southwest of the city centre. The 116-hectare site is close to Heidelberg’s central station and is one of the largest urban development projects in Germany. 411
The project’s development period is given as 2008–2027. Its development company, Entwicklungsgesellschaft Heidelberg (EGH), was established in early 2008 by GGH, LBBW Immobilien Management GmbH and Sparkasse Heidelberg. EGH took responsibility for overall project organisation and coordination and for developing the land. 46
The district combines housing with research, business and public facilities. Its 22-hectare campus supports science and research-oriented businesses, while the wider area includes laboratories, shops, childcare facilities, a primary school, a fire station and a cinema. All buildings are designed to the passive-house standard, and electricity and heat are supplied entirely from renewable energy. 410
The first residents moved in in June 2012. The city’s figures report 5,600 residents as of June 2021; the planned build-out is around 6,800 residents and up to 6,000 workers. About 2,800 homes had been built, with approximately 3,700 planned in total. The estimated investment is around €2 billion. 4