Germany: Lower Saxony

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Regional information

Basic facts on marine waters

Territorial sea (12 nm zone): approximately 5 924 km²
Exclusive Economic Zone: N/A

Strategic documents related to MSP

Technical resources related to MSP

N/A

Relevant MSP projects

N/A

Current status of MSP

Spatial Planning Programme of Lower Saxony

Name of the plan	Spatial Planning Programme of Lower Saxony (LROP 2022)
Year of approval	2022 (LROP-regulation in the version of 26. 9. 2017 (Nds.GVBl. S. 378), last amended by regulation of 07.09.2022 (Nds. GVBl. S. 521; 2023 S. 103))
Size of planning area in km2	Land: ~ 47 700 km² plus territorial sea (12 nm zone): ~5 924 km²
Authority leading the MSP process	Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection

Current status
Pre-planning	Completed
Assessments for planning	Completed
Plan development	Completed
Plan completion	Completed
Plan approval	Completed
Plan implementation	Completed
Plan review	Completed

MSP Typology
Scale (Local/ Sub-national/ National)	Sub-national
Scope (Coastal Zone /Coastal and Marine /Marine)	Coastal Zone
Purpose (Strategic /Zoning /Comprehensive)	Zoning
Political commitment (Informal /Executive decision / Legal statute)	Legal statute
Implementation framework (Guiding /Legally binding)	Legally binding
Main objectives (Biodiversity conservation / Economic development / Multiple objectives)	Multiple objectives
Spatial allocation (Limited / Partial allocation /Detailed allocation)	Detailed allocation
Stakeholders involved (Limited /Key sectors /Sectors & Public)	Sectors & Public
Participatory process (Informative /Consultative /Collaborative)	Collaborative
Funding (Government /Public-Private /Grants)	Government

Update of the Spatial Planning Programme of Lower Saxony

Name of the plan	Update of the Spatial Planning Programme of Lower Saxony
Year of approval	1st draft expected in the 2nd quarter 2025
Size of planning area in km2	Land: ~ 47 700 km² plus territorial sea (12 nm zone): ~5 924 km²
Authority leading the MSP process	Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection

Current status
Pre-planning	Completed
Assessments for planning	Completed
Plan development	Underway
Plan completion	N/A
Plan approval	N/A
Plan implementation	N/A
Plan review	N/A

National authority in charge of MSP	Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community
Governmental funding	N/A
External funding	N/A
Public-Private funding	N/A
Total size of planning area	N/A
Time required to complete the planning document	Concerning the Plan of Lower Saxony (LROP): Completed by 2027
Main issues that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers)	Federal policy; nuclear phase-out; climate protection and adaptation to climate change; connection of the offshore wind farms in the EEZ; sea level rise, securing areas for sand extraction for coastal protection purposes, nature conservation (FFH, Natura 2000, Nationalpark Waddensea)
Stakeholder engagement activities	Finished for the level of general planning intentions
Sectors included in planning	a. o. energy (power generation, network operators); shipping; coastal and nature conservation; water management; raw material extraction; fishing; tourism; marine research
Articulation between MSP and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (IZCM)	Especially with regard to energy issues
Articulation between MSP and marine conservation (including the Kunming- Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework)	N/A
Articulation between MSP and sustainable blue economy	N/A
Articulation between MSP and climate change (including the Paris Agreement)	Especially with regard to coastal protection
Plan approval process	Underway; the last update was in 2022
Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding)	Enactment with binding effect for public bodies
Plan review process	in process
Performance monitoring and evaluation	N/A
Interactions with neighbouring countries in the context of MSP attending transboundary coherence approaches	Involvement in the participation process

Legal framework

Federal Spatial Planning Act (ROG)
Regional Planning Act of Lower Saxony (NROG)
Regional Planning Programme of Lower Saxony, 2017

Contact

Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection

Petra Sewig – Deputy Head of Unit

Last updated: April 2025

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