Policies to Support Urban Manufacturing: A Case Study of Germany

With recent technological advancements that bring about quieter and cleaner forms of production, cities are witnessing a surge in high-value manufacturing and shifts towards decentralized industrial production. However, policy-makers and cities are often unaware of the technological changes and the potential integration of new forms of manufacturing in inner-city areas. Consequently, they continue to rezone industrial land for residential and commercial developments underestimating the opportunities and services provided by manufacturing. We examine policy documents on urban manufacturing to
understand how they address issues related to land use, economic development, labor and resources. While urban policy is centered around advanced manufacturing, results revealed that land use regulations lag behind as Germany continues to follow conventional approaches that separate industrial uses based on performance standards. Based on our review, we identify opportunities to support the integration of new forms of manufacturing in urban contexts and recommend changes to better respond to manufacturing challenges.