New Zoning Plan – New Opportunities: FLUXUM Gernsheim Drives Site Development Forward

After a project period of nearly 3.5 years, the Gernsheim Town Council has approved a Merck-initiated amendment to the zoning plan (Bebauungsplan) for the East Area of FLUXUM Gernsheim. This is an important milestone in the site development of FLUXUM Gernsheim, benefiting not only the site itself but the entire region.

The new zoning plan creates modern framework conditions that enable more intensive use and contemporary development of the site. The previous plan dated back to 1992 and no longer met the requirements of modern industrial sites.

What is a zoning plan and what is it needed for?

A zoning plan regulates how an area may be used: which types of buildings may be constructed, how tall they may be, and how much area they may occupy. The new plan increases building capacity while also including requirements regarding structure, noise protection, and other environmental concerns.

How did the amendment process unfold?

At Merck's request, the City of Gernsheim, as the lead authority for the procedure, decided to initiate a corresponding process. It was based on expert assessments of nature and species conservation, soil quality, traffic, and freedom from unexploded ordnance. Public agencies such as neighboring municipalities, water and soil authorities, nature conservation associations, and transport associations were asked to submit their comments. In addition, two rounds of public participation took place in spring and autumn 2025, during which citizens were able to voice their views. In February 2026, the Town Council approved the plan, and it was published in March 2026 — it has been in effect ever since.

The new zoning plan is an important step toward the development of the roughly 35 hectares of open land. Stefan Fandel, Head of Site Development at FLUXUM Gernsheim, underscores this: "With the new zoning plan, we are creating excellent conditions for further developing the FLUXUM site. New rules with greater flexibility allow us to make the site fit for the future. With this step, the attractiveness of the site has increased significantly. Building on these new possibilities, we will now hold further discussions with companies interested in settling here."

We would like to especially highlight — and warmly thank — the excellent cooperation with the City of Gernsheim, various authorities and specialist firms, as well as numerous Merck departments!

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