New city quarter "7Höfe" in Bocholt is progressing according to plan

Great things are currently happening between the city centre and Lake Aa in Bocholt: a new urban quarter with 382 flats is being built there under the title "7Höfe", designed to meet the needs of families, singles, senior citizens and students. There are also plans for a neighbourhood bakery and a restaurant on the banks of the River Aa, as well as a children's daycare centre. The majority of the flats will be publicly subsidised.

In the first two construction phases, 193 flats have already been built, 68 of which are publicly subsidised. In the third construction phase, 18 modern new flats are currently being built, which are publicly subsidised and therefore offered at a favourable rent.

The project is being realised by Stadt + Quartier GmbH, a partnership ("joint venture") between WohnBau Group and Sparkasse Westmünsterland.

The work is proceeding according to plan. Ina Scharrenbach, Minister for Home Affairs, Municipal Affairs, Building and Digitalisation of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, was also able to see this for herself. On 7 November, in the presence of Bocholt's mayor Thomas Kerkhoff, district administrator Dr Kai Zwicker and representatives of the client and local politicians from Bocholt, she ceremoniously handed over a funding commitment of 4 million euros.

Voices on the project

Ina Scharrenbach, NRW Minister for Home Affairs, Municipal Affairs, Building and Digitalisation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia: "A new neighbourhood on an old industrial site - the 7Höfe project by Stadt + Quartier GmbH is setting new standards for modern, sustainable and affordable living with the support of public housing funding from the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. On the site of the former Bocholt textile industry, a colourful mixed neighbourhood with 382 new-build flats is being created in seven construction phases, 242 of which are publicly subsidised. In the third construction phase, 18 of the 242 rent-controlled flats will be realised with funding of around 4 million euros. The public housing subsidy from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia is an enabler for affordable housing, from which good neighbourly relations can grow."

District Administrator Dr Kai Zwicker: "The '7Höfe' new-build project makes two things clear: 1. those responsible in Westmünsterland take the concerns of citizens about sufficient, appropriate living space very seriously. 2. the new construction solutions must fit in with the region. This applies in particular to targeted neighbourhood development in the municipalities - this major construction project is an excellent example."

Bocholt's mayor Thomas Kerkhoff: "The 'Kulturquartier Bocholter Aa und Industriestraße' project - KuBAaI for short - is, in my opinion, the most exciting residential development project in Münsterland! It's not just the places for art and culture or the quality of life on the site, but the combination of these aspects with a new residential neighbourhood for several hundred people that makes this flagship project so attractive."

WohnBau board member Uwe Schramm: "The 7Höfe project is a prime example of regional co-operation. Through their project development, two strong partners are creating urban returns in the best sense of the word."

WohnBau board member Dr Stefan Jägering: "The 7Höfe development is not just about building flats. Rather, we want to curate a vibrant and intergenerational neighbourhood that meets the very different requirements for housing and living."

Heinrich-Georg Krumme, Chairman of the Management Board of Sparkasse Westmünsterland: "Creating living space is a very special concern for us. It is not only a basic right, but also essential for the quality of life and the economic future of our region. For us, it was no longer enough to point out the housing shortage. That's why we took action ourselves together with WohnBau."

Information for prospective tenants

Letting of the flats in the first construction phase has already started. Interested parties and prospective tenants can find further information at www.wohnbau-wml.de/projekte/7hoefe.

Assisted living

Kardinal Diepenbrock GmbH will offer 51 flats "in its "assisted living" concept, which has been tried and tested for decades". Counselling will start at the end of 2024.