Landesentwicklungsprogramm (LEP) Rheinland Pfalz

The first State Development Program was created in 1968. The current State Development Program dates back to 2008 and is the fourth such document. The challenges associated with globalization and demographic change are the focus of the program. In addition, the economic development and the consideration of gender equality are the focus of the planning document. The State Development Program (LEP IV) is divided into four parts: (A) program; (B) objectives and principles of regional development; (C) strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and (D) gender check.

Part A “Future Rhineland-Palatinate Program” contains programmatic statements on future state development in relation to the following topics: – the opportunities of demographic change; – making Rhineland-Palatinate sustainable; – state of an innovative middle class; – using conversion to create new structures; – inter-communal cooperation; – climate change and sustainable energy policies; – the cultural and scientific center of Rhineland-Palatinate – qualifying education and training; – a social and active Rhineland-Palatinate; – cultural landscape and tourism; – state of committed citizens and – gender mainstreaming.

Part B “Objectives and Principles of State Development” contains statements on the implementation of the previous state planning mission statements. These are subdivided into the subject areas:

• I. State planning framework
• II. Development of the space and location mission statement “development – growth and innovation”
• III. Securing and developing public services
• IV. Design and use of the open space structure
• V. Securing and continuing to develop infrastructure
• VI. Spatial effectiveness of financial flows mission statement “spatial effectiveness of financial flows”

Statements about goals (abbr. Z = Ziele; binding specifications) and principles (abbr. G = allgemeine Aussagen) are made. In addition, each of these statements is put into concrete terms. These are based on two spatial structure types determined by state planning: densely populated areas and rural areas. In general, a decline in population is expected in Rhineland-Palatinate. At the same time, the number of older people will increase. In particular, the main urban centers are experiencing population declines due to migration to the surrounding area (suburbanization). After this, the development of areas and locations are discussed. With regard to cross-border cooperation, the following structures in particular should continue to be strengthened: – the Greater Region (here, one of the goals is to implement a cross-border development concept for Trier-Luxembourg); – the mandated area of the Upper Rhine Conference and – the cooperation area PAMINA (see also map 5, p. 62). The following statements are made: – integrated rural development; – maintenance and expansion of the municipal structures (attributed to municipal planning sovereignty); – ensure public services by means of a decentralized concentration principle (central location structure); – development of a cross-border network of connected biotopes according to § 3 Federal Nature Conservation Act and § 29 State Nature Conservation Act; – Share of renewable energy sources should continue to increase.

Part C “Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)” involves identifying, describing and assessing the likely significant environmental impacts (according to the European Commission’s Guide 2003) caused by the implementation of the LEP IV and other planning options that have been raised in preparation of the program.

Part D “Gender Check LEP IV” explains the consideration of gender mainstreaming throughout the entire document. Based on the “Guiding Principles on Gender Mainstreaming in the Council of Ministers” and other checklists, a list was drawn up to “review the mission statements’ goals and principles regarding their contribution to the achievement of equal opportunities for men and women”(p. 276).

Contents

• Map and Table Directory

Preamble

• Part A: Program
• Part B: Goals and Principles of State Development
  • I. State planning framework
    • 1. 1 Area Structure
    • 1. 2 Demographic Development Framework
    • 1. 3 Equality, Sustainability and Gender Equality
  • II. Development of the Space and Location Mission Statement “Development – Growth and Innovation”
    • 2. 1 Regions and Areas with Cross-Border Development Impulses
    • 2. 2 Nationally Significant Development Areas and Focus Areas
    • 2. 3 Integrated Development of Rural Areas Mission Statement “Development of Rural Areas”
    • 2. 4 Development of the Communities Mission Statement “Sustainable Community Development"”
  • III. Securing and Developing Public Services
    • Mission Statement “Public Services”
    • 3. 1 Central Location Structure
    • 3. 2 Sustainable Perception of the Basic Public Services Functions
  • IV. Design and Use of the Open Space Structure
    • 4. 1 Open Space Protection Mission Statement “Open Space Protection”
    • 4. 2 Landscape Structure Mission Statement “Landscape”
    • 4. 3 Natural Resources Mission Statement “Resource Conservation”
    • 4. 4 Use of Open Space Mission Statement “Open Space Use”
  • V. Securing and Continuing to Develop Infrastructure
    • 5. 1 Transport Mission Statement “Securing Mobility”
    • 5. 2 Energy Supply Mission Statement “Sustainable Energy Supply”
    • 5.3 Telecommunications and Postal Services Mission Statement “Telecommunications and Postal Services”
    • 5. 4 Waste Management Mission Statement “Waste Management”
  • VI. Spatial Effectiveness of Financial Flows Mission Statement “Spatial Effectiveness of Financial Flows”
  • Annex to Part B
• Part C: Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
  • I. Introduction
    • 1.1 Objectives of the Environmental Assessment
    • 1.2 Outline of the Content and Main Objectives of the Program
    • 1.3 Methodology and Structure of the Environmental Report
  • II. Description of the Current State of the Environment Including Environmental Objectives
    • 2.1 Cross-Sectional Environmental Objectives of Spatial Planning
    • 2.2 Human, Health, Population
    • 2.3 Protected Landscapes and Protected Cultural Assets
    • 2.4 Protected Animals and Plants (Biodiversity, NATURA 2000)
    • 2.5 Protected Water
    • 2.6 Protected Soil
    • 2.7 Protected Climate/Air Including Radon and Noise
    • 2.8 Protected Material Goods
    • 2.9 Interactions Between the Protected Material Goods
  • III. Regulations with Expected Significant Environmental Impact
    • 3.1 State Planning Framework
    • 3.2 Development of Areas and Locations
    • 3.3 Securing and Developing Public Services
    • 3.4 Design and Use of the Open Space Structure
    • 3.5 Securing and Continuing to Develop Infrastructure
    • 3.6 Spatial Effectiveness of Financial Flows
  • IV. FFH Compatibility
  • V. Overall Situation
  • VI. Monitoring Measures
  • VII. General Summary
  • VIII. Literature and Sources of SEA
• Part D: Gender Check LEP IV *
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2 Gender Mainstreaming Activities in Rhineland-Palatinate State Planning
  • 3 Model Project: Rheinpfalz – Region on a Gender Course
  • 4 Conference on the State Development Program IV
  • 5. Future Outlook
  • Literature and Bibliography of the Gender Check