Status: 02.02.2021 6:30 a.m.
Land away from the larger cities in Lower Saxony is becoming increasingly popular. Experts from the Pestel Institute find that working from home means that many employees move to the country.
For decades, the issue of rural exodus has dominated the headlines. In recent times, the demographic change in particular has exacerbated the crisis in rural areas. With the exception of the communities in the bacon belts of Hanover, Hamburg or other large cities. Because living space in the metropolises has become more and more expensive, young families in particular have increasingly turned to the surrounding communities in recent decades. In return, they accepted long distances to get to work. And then Corona came and taught people that, for example, they no longer have to commute to the big city five days a week. The radius around the metropolises has increased significantly. There can be no talk of rural exodus in these areas.
Significantly lower prices in the countryside
Nicole Hasenjäger and her friend Pierre Klose, for example, have found their dream property in Salzhemmendorf (Hameln-Pyrmont district). “We wanted to stay in the Hanover area, so we informed ourselves for a long time about the new properties that had been developed in Sarstedt,” they report in an interview with the NDR in Lower Saxony. “When it came to the price, however, we almost tipped over backwards, because up to 290 euros per square meter were assumed, which we could not achieve.” Half an hour by car further south in Salzhemmendorf they finally found a building plot for a quarter of the price.
VIDEO: Corona crisis: Home office regulation comes into force (3 min)
–
–
–
Fast internet as an important factor
A good internet connection was very important for the couple. “During the Corona period in particular, it was of course noticeable that home office was an ever-increasing issue,” says Klose. “It is therefore an advantage if you have good internet at home so that you can work quickly and easily from there.” How dynamic the development in Salzhemmendorf is can also be seen in the neighboring building area, which has just been designated, said Klose. Within a week and a half, all building plots were reserved.
The Digitization opens up new possibilities
A good digital infrastructure increases the commuter radius. This does not only apply to people who are leaving the big cities. This also applies to those who are no longer drawn to the big cities in order to be as close as possible to their workplace. Andreas Dörries and his girlfriend Johanna Sievert come from the Weser Uplands. Because Dörries works in Braunschweig, the couple was faced with the question of whether it would not be better to move there. But you made a conscious decision against it – and bought a house in Coppenbrügge (Hameln-Pyrmont district). The good internet connection also played a major role for them.
Commuters work on the train
Andreas Dörries is now commuting to Braunschweig by train. The pure travel time there and back is two hours and 20 minutes. But no problem for him: “Before taking the train, I can check the app to see whether my train is arriving on time. So I no longer have to wait at the station,” he says. “And with mobile devices, I can use the time effectively while driving and work. That also makes the journey as such more pleasant.”
Demand for building sites is increasing sharply
Corona has accelerated the new desire for the country. The trend was already apparent beforehand. The Coppenbrügge area has twelve districts. “We sat here for years on our fully developed building sites,” says Mayor Hans-Ulrich Peschka (CDU). The tide turned around three years ago. The demand for building sites has grown steadily. This trend has been reinforced by the pandemic, because employers are now increasingly relying on the home office. In the meantime, the families have reported to the town halls with the demand that the communities should finally designate more building sites. “We specifically ask those willing to build for their motives,” reports Peschka. “They then say we can no longer afford that in the city and want to go to the countryside. We also want to consciously have contact with other families. We no longer want to live so anonymously in the big city.”
Municipalities are happy about development
The situation in Salzhemmendorf is similar. Like Sauerbier, they offered their building plots for years, says Mayor Clemens Pommerening (non-party). However, for a few years now, demand has been increasing – and particularly strongly in the past year. “Especially now in the Corona times there has been a real run,” he reports. “The building sites that we reserved were literally sold out last year. A great development here for us.”
Old properties are also in demand
A lot is happening at the moment in the older houses in the community centers. In Salzhemmendorf, 100 houses in the center of the village changed hands last year, says Pommerening. In Coppenbrügge, the area is currently selling many of its own old properties, said Mayor Peschka. They went like hot cakes – despite the meanwhile increased prices. These would have doubled within a few years. A good internet connection plays an important role in this, emphasizes Peschka. A lot is currently being invested in the broadband network in Coppenbrügge. In many districts, data rates of up to one gigabyte are now possible.
Videos
–
