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Commercial Area Barkauer Land
Creating opportunities together:
the inter-municipal commercial area Barkauer Land
The state capital, Kiel; the municipalities of Klein Barkau, Großbarkau and Honigsee; the Preetz-Land district administration; and Kiel Economic Development (KiWi), acting as project manager, are examining the feasibility of creating an inter-municipal industrial estate in the Barkauer Land region with a total area of around 89 hectares.
Given the high demand and limited supply of commercial land in Kiel, the development of this inter-municipal industrial estate is the right way to strengthen the region’s economic performance.
Since the project was launched in February 2025, important foundations have been laid for further planning and development.
Christian Kliesow Remeș
Unser Ansprechpartner für das Barkauer Land
Address: Preetzer Street, 24245 Klein Barkau
The area is situated to the south, a short distance from the state capital, Kiel, and is very easily accessible via the B 404. The ‘Klein Barkau’ junction on the A 21 will soon be completed, providing excellent links to the motorway network.
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Stages of development
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Development across local authority boundaries
Inter-municipal cooperation makes it possible to consider the development of new commercial sites across municipal boundaries and to explore shared prospects for the region, thereby jointly strengthening the region’s economic vitality.
In spring 2026, two key elements for the area’s further development were launched: the natural capital assessment and the feasibility study with an urban development framework plan. These examine the spatial development potential as well as key requirements for potential commercial use. These include, amongst other things, transport links, environmental considerations and the impact on the surrounding area.
Kiel and the municipalities in the Plön district face shared challenges – in particular, the need for commercial space. Inter-municipal cooperation offers us the opportunity to drive economic development not only locally but also regionally. It is a strategic investment in the future for all those involved.
Dr Ulf Kämpfer
Former Lord Mayor and Head of the Economic Affairs Department of the state capital, Kiel
Incorporate regional perspectives
Involving local people is a key part of the planning process. In June 2026, the findings to date from the natural capital accounting exercise were presented and discussed at a workshop attended by members of the public, local authorities and the project team.
At an initial public information session in August 2026, attended by representatives from the participating local authorities, Plön District, the City of Kiel, KiWi and the commissioned team of experts from LAND Research Lab, the current status of the feasibility study, the urban development framework plan and the next steps were presented. The participants raised numerous questions, comments and suggestions.
The topics ranged from the management of natural resources and potential noise and odour pollution to transport, suitable industries and expectations regarding sustainable development.
Natural capital accounting as part of planning
A key feature of the project is the accompanying natural capital accounting. This examines the ecological services currently provided by the land and how these can be taken into account in the event of potential commercial development.
The focus is on three key areas:
- Biodiversity: What significance do existing green spaces and habitats have for plants and animals?
- Climate protection: How much carbon is stored in soils, trees and woody plants?
- Climate adaptation: How important are these areas for rainwater absorption and cooling the surrounding environment?
The findings are intended to help compare different development scenarios on the basis of environmental criteria and to incorporate nature-based solutions into the planning process at an early stage.
Current status & next steps
The insights gained from the various on-site meetings are now being incorporated into the further development of the feasibility study and the drafting of the urban development framework plan, in order to thoroughly examine the development options and drive the planning process forward in a targeted manner.
The next public information session, offering opportunities for public participation, is planned for spring 2027. At that time, key findings from the studies carried out to date will be presented and discussed with members of the public.
You can find more information on all the steps involved in the development of the area in our detailed logbook entry “Barkauer Land Commercial Estate – planning together, developing sustainably”.