Regional development in the context of major infrastructure projects: implementation, regional application and conditions for success

The region plays a key role in the site selection process for a geological repository (Sperfeld et al. 2023; Drögemüller, 2018). This importance is recognised in the siting procedure through the tasks of the regional conferences in supporting the socio-economic potential analyses (SÖPA), the preparation of regional development concepts and participation in a siting agreement (Kelly et al. 2024; Smeddinck et al., 2025). The design of these processes presumably has a major influence on whether the process and the results are assessed as appropriate and fair in the region and whether positive development opportunities can be realised in the siting region with the siting of a repository (Kommission Lagerung hochradioaktiver Abfallstoffe, 2016). 

This contribution focuses on conceptual considerations regarding the delineation of a region, the identification of its endogenous potentials and possible methods and institutions for regional development. Regions are ‘historically evolved units, culturally and economically intertwined geographical areas that develop and endure independently of state, district and city boundaries’ (Tretter, 2017: 23). Functional regions resulting from economic or social interdependencies often do not correspond to the administrative boundaries of political units (UVEK & BFE, 2022).
In the literature on regional development, a paradigm shift can be seen from a strongly economy-centred approach to a holistic view of regions, which also includes regionally existing talents and characteristics as well as approaches to sustainable development (Chilla et al, 2015). This is based on a broader understanding of the attractiveness of a region and the attachment of people to it (OECD, 2022, Mbah & Kuppler 2024). There is no clear evidence of a standardised methodological approach to analysing development potential and creating regional development concepts, either in the literature or in practice. Rather, development processes are primarily controlled via regionally specific institutional arrangements for the initiation of pilot projects. This results in a range of possible development instruments that can only be presented schematically.

The selected case studies will be used to illustrate different methods and instruments of regional development. The first example is the Asse salt mine, which was used as a repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste before it was decided to close it down and retrieve the waste (Hocke et al. 2016). A future fund was set up for regional development projects. The second example relates to the sectoral plan procedure for a deep geological repository (SGT) in Switzerland, in which socio-economic-ecological impact studies were used as the basis for the current regional development process. The presentation concludes with preliminary findings on conditions for successful regional development. 

The presentation is based on a systematic literature review and a case study analysis as part of the KoRegio research project (FKZ 4724F10002) (Sperfeld et al., 2025), which is being conducted on behalf of the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE). The project analyses regional development practices for large infrastructure projects with the aim of developing a solid basis for the corresponding work steps of the regional conferences as part of the site selection process.