Elisa­beth­-Aue: Berlin approves framework for 5,000 homes

On September 29, 2026, Berlin’s Senate adopted the development framework for Elisabeth-Aue in Pankow. Around 5,000 homes are planned, approximately 70 percent to be built by HOWOGE and GESOBAU. Other plots are intended mainly for cooperatives and public-interest organisations. Detailed planning and statutory land-use procedures will follow. The latest decision therefore concerns preparations for the neighbourhood, not the completion of new homes.¹

Urban design for approximately 73 hectares

The underlying design was selected in the spring. On March 26, 2026, the jury chose the joint proposal by Hosoya Schaefer Architects and AgenceTer.de. The state-owned site covers approximately 73 hectares. The design distributes buildings across four neighbourhoods with green centres connected by a large park. Alongside housing, it includes shops, workplaces, and educational and cultural facilities. Twelve teams initially submitted proposals; four subsequently refined their designs, incorporating feedback from the jury and the public.²

Two subprojects at different planning stages

For the first phase, the Senate approved draft development plan 3-89 on June 9, 2026, and announced its referral to Berlin’s parliament. This phase envisages approximately 870 homes, all built by state-owned housing companies. At least half are intended to have rent and occupancy restrictions. A secondary school, sports facilities and a park are also planned. The announcement additionally identifies land for roads and infrastructure. These figures concern the first subproject, rather than all homes across the overall development.³

For the second phase, the urban development administration announced the initiation of development plan procedure 3-100 on September 3. Covering the northwestern area, it is intended to establish the legal planning basis for implementing the design. Plans include a primary school, nurseries, local shops, and social and cultural facilities. Cooperatives and public-interest developers are expected to deliver more than 30 percent of this subproject’s homes. An initial information meeting on allocating plots through design-based selection took place in August 2026. The responsible Senate department manages the procedure.⁴

Tram connections within the neighbourhood development

Two tram extensions also form part of the planned transport infrastructure. On February 11, 2025, the Senate decided to continue their planning. Under the route concept described then, line 50 would extend from the Guyotstraße terminus, while the M1 would continue along Dietzgenstraße. The new sections were estimated at approximately 3.5 kilometres combined. The planned services would provide direct journeys to Niederschönhausen, Pankow and Mitte, plus connections to Pankow-Heinersdorf and Pankow stations. That decision concerned further planning, not the start of operations.⁵