Signing of the urban development contract for the development plan "Blau.Quartier – construction phase Central-West" in Ulm
With the signing of the urban development contract for the Central-West construction section on 5 August 2026, a central milestone has been reached for the Blau.Quartier project on Blaubeurer Straße in Ulm (Baden-Württemberg) – in addition to the political decisions that have already been made. It creates the formal prerequisites for public interpretation and the participation of the authorities, thus paving the way for the next phase of the development plan procedure.
The Central-West construction section covers around 4.7 hectares. A mix of uses with a total of around 900 residential units is planned, 40 percent of which will be subsidized. In addition, service and commercial areas, gastronomy, a boarding house/hotel and a four-class daycare center are planned.
Dr. Simon Kempf, Managing Director of Periskop Development GmbH: "With the Central-West construction section of the Blau.Quartier, we are bringing 4.7 hectares of ready-to-build potential to the market in one of Germany's strongest economic regions. The division into eleven individually purchaseable building plots between 1,300 and 4,400 m2 was deliberately chosen: it also opens up the quarter to regional property developers and project developers and ensures the architectural diversity that a lively district needs."
Tim von Winning, Mayor of the City of Ulm: "I am pleased that we have taken another important step towards the realisation of the Blau.Quartier with the conclusion of the urban development contract. Together with all those involved in the project, we were able to achieve a good basis for high quality in terms of urban development, architecture and open space planning. I am very grateful for this intensive and constructive discussion."
The urban development contract for the Central-West construction section defines binding guidelines for further planning and implementation. The main contents include specifications on urban development and open space qualities, the securing of 40 percent subsidised housing and necessary adjustments to the public access facilities in the vicinity of the project. The customary local announcement in the official gazette is expected at the beginning of September 2026. The end of the development plan procedure for the Central-West construction section is targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026 - subject to the decisions of the political bodies.
The Blau.Quartier is one of the largest inner-city conversion projects in Germany. It is being built on the site of the former Blautal-Center shopping center, which was opened in 1997. Where previously a 480-metre-long retail property dominated the urban space, a permeable, mixed-use quarter with a total of around 1,000 apartments is now growing on a total of around 6.6 hectares.
For the eastern construction section, the city of Ulm had already passed the bylaw resolution in spring 2025. Among other things, around 7,500 m² of rental space for local supply, around 2,000 m² for further retail as well as a medical centre, office space, a fitness studio and around 110 apartments with a view of the Blau are being built there. In May 2026, the "East" construction phase was awarded the polis Award in the Urban Land Recycling category.
Blau.Quartier Ulm is being developed as a joint venture between Periskop Development and HLG Real Estate for the property owners. Together with the city of Ulm, MAAS & PARTNER Architekten initiated and developed the overarching master plan and helped shape the dialogue and development plan procedure. The procedure for drawing up the development plan was started in 2023.
To the Blau.Quartier website: https://blauquartier-ulm.de/
