Planwerk Urban Development

What Planwerk Urban Development does

Planwerk Urban Development (PLANWERK STADTENTWICKLUNG) is a Nuremberg-based urban planning consultancy founded in 1987 and operating as a German PartG mbB partnership. The firm delivers integrated urban development planning services to German municipalities, with capabilities spanning integrated Stadtentwicklungskonzepte (ISEK), Gemeindeentwicklungskonzepte (GEK), municipal heat planning (Kommunale Wärmeplanung, KWP), mobility planning, rural development, citizen participation, and Vitality Checks. Documented engagements include 60+ Vitality Checks, 20+ municipal alliances, 10+ GEK, multiple ISEK, and 10+ active Stadtumbau management mandates, primarily across Bavaria (with deep roots in Middle Franconia) and extending into Thüringen, Baden-Württemberg, and Hessen.

The firm's technology stack is anchored by the proprietary PLANWERK Geoportal, built on the open-source Mapbender framework, which hosts multiple city-specific applications including 2025-2026 launches for heat planning. The proprietary ZUMOS forecasting model supports demographic and demand projection work. The firm is a partner in the federally funded RealLab SOPERN project via BMWK and Projektträger Jülich. Headcount is ~20-25 across partners, deputy managers, planning specialists, and support staff, with senior planners registered with the Bayerische Architektenkammer (ByAK) and active leadership roles in IfR, DGFK, and SRL.

The business model is project-based professional services delivery funded by German municipal clients (Städte, Gemeinden, Landkreise). Revenue is generated through fixed-fee planning studies (ISEK, GEK, Vitality Checks) and multi-year management mandates (Stadtumbau, Sanierung, KWP). Go-to-market relies on public-sector procurement frameworks, professional association presence, and referral from a 38-year track record with repeat municipal clients. There is no external equity funding; the firm is wholly partner-owned.

Name

Planwerk Urban Development

Legal name

PLANWERK STADTENTWICKLUNG | Dr. Preising, Schramm & Sperr Stadtplaner PartG mbB

Website

https://planwerk.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Planwerk Stadtentwicklung is a German urban planning consultancy (PartG mbB) founded in 1987 in Nuremberg, serving municipalities with integrated development planning, heat planning, mobility planning, rural development, and citizen participation, supported by its proprietary Geoportal and ZUMOS forecasting tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Planning Consultancy

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Architectural Services (541310)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE), Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO), Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD)

Keywords

• Urban planning consultancy
• Municipal heat planning
• Regional development planning
• Citizen participation services
• Population forecasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Nürnberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Professional Planning and Consultancy Services: PLANWERK generates revenue by providing contracted professional planning and consultancy services to municipalities, public authorities, and occasionally to project developers and housing companies. Services are project-based and delivered over defined periods, typically ranging from several months to multiple years for management mandates.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PLANWERK STADTENTWICKLUNG is a German spatial development planning office (PartG mbB) that delivers integrated urban and rural development concepts, municipal heat planning (KWP), mobility and traffic concepts, population forecasts using its proprietary ZUMOS model, district/quartiers management, and citizen participation and moderation services primarily to municipalities and public authorities across Germany. The firm complements these professional planning services with the in-house PLANWERK Geoportal (a web-based GIS application built on Mapbender) for publishing project references and heat planning results.

Product overview

PLANWERK STADTENTWICKLUNG operates as an urban and regional development planning office offering a comprehensive portfolio of consulting services rather than a unified software product. The core offering centers on the PLANWERK Geoportal, an interactive web mapping platform built on Mapbender, which publishes municipal heat planning results and project references. Service offerings span integrated urban development concepts (ISEK, GEK, VU), municipal heat planning (KWP), mobility and traffic concepts, population forecasting using the ZUMOS model, follow-up cost calculations, retail development concepts, district management, council moderation retreats, and citizen participation services including online web-mapping. The Geoportal functions as the primary digital product for delivering spatial planning results, while the broader consulting services encompass concepts, management, and moderation across areas including rural development (ILEK, LEADER strategies), core path networks, land management, and real estate development support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PLANWERK Geoportal Interactive web mapping platform developed in-house that allows users to display and filter map sections by theme and access detailed information about PLANWERK projects and heat planning results.
• Kommunale Wärmeplanung (KWP) Municipal heat planning service helping municipalities prepare for federal Heat Planning Act requirements, including status analysis, potential analysis, scenario development, and strategy formulation.
• Integrierte Städtebauliche Entwicklungskonzepte (ISEK) Integrated urban development concept serving as the decisive foundation for accessing urban development funding programmes, combining existing plans, inventories, expert assessments, citizen participation, and framework planning.
• Gemeindeentwicklungskonzepte (GEK) Municipal development concepts for rural communities, often combined with vitality checks and land management assessments to guide sustainable settlement development.
• Vorbereitende Untersuchungen (VU) Preparatory investigations for urban development and building land use planning, examining existing structures, uses, and development potential of specific areas.
• Quartiersmanagement / Stadtteilmanagement District and neighborhood management services accompanying urban renewal programmes, including coordination with local actors, project initiation, participation formats, and public relations work.
• Ratsklausuren
• Mobilitäts- und Verkehrskonzepte
• Bevölkerungsprognosen und Bedarfsermittlungen
• Folgekostenberechnungen
• Einzelhandelsentwicklungskonzepte
• Kernwegenetzkonzepte
• Beteiligung und Moderation
• LEADER Lokale Entwicklungsstrategien (LES)
• Flächenmanagement und Innenentwicklung
• Integrierte Ländliche Entwicklungskonzepte (ILEK)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 municipalities served with Vitality Checks and Flächenmanagement; more than 20 integrated rural development alliances supported; more than 10 GEK projects completed; multiple ISEK projects across German municipalities.

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bayerische Architektenkammer (ByAK)coreOthersPLANWERK staff are registered in the Stadtplanerliste of the Bayerische Architektenkammer (ByAK). The firm maintains active involvement including membership in the Nachwuchsförderung strategy group since 2022. All founding partners are registered city planners with ByAK.
• IfR – Informationskreis für Raumplanung e.V.coreOthersPLANWERK maintains active membership in IfR. Gunter Schramm serves as Regional Speaker for IfR Franken/Nordbayern. The firm stays current through regular continuing education and integrates new knowledge into its concepts.
• SRL – Vereinigung für Stadt-, Regional- und Landesplanung e.V.coreOthersPLANWERK maintains active membership in SRL. Dr. Tobias Preising was part of the editorial board of the SRL members' journal PLANERIN (2013-2023). Louisa Gress serves as Sprecherin of SRL Bayern. Claus Sperr is also a member of SRL.
• Universität BayreuthcoreOthersPLANWERK currently holds a Lehrauftrag (teaching assignment) at the Universität Bayreuth, through which the firm shares professional and practical knowledge with university students.
• SEP (Stadtentwicklung Partnerschaft)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on the ISEK project for Stadt Dachau (2021-2023).
• TB MarkertminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on the ISEK with GEK project for Gemeinde Eching i.Ndb.
• Büro für Städtebau (BfS+)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on multiple projects including ILEK B 303+, Regionale Identität Landkreis Aschaffenburg, and E-Ladeinfrastruktur Landkreis Forchheim.
• AR Climate+minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on Kommunale Wärmeplanung projects for Stadt Passau and Stadt Herzberg am Harz (2025).
• Dr. Fruhmann & PartnerminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJoint Umsetzungsbegleitung (implementation support) for rural development alliances: Allianz Donauschleife and Allianz Donau-Isar.
• Topos team / Dieter BlaseminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on Quartiersmanagement Nürnberg Altstadt Nord/Süd (since 2017).
• Planungsgruppe LandschaftminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on the Grüner Weg zum Faberwald project for Stadt Nürnberg (2019-2021).
• Kücking LandschaftsarchitekturminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on the Grüner Weg zum Faberwald project for Stadt Nürnberg (2019-2021).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kücking Landschaftsarchitektur: Direct peer and partner on the Grüner Weg zum Faberwald project for Stadt Nürnberg (2019-2021). A German landscape architecture firm with municipal planning practice, comparable in scale and customer base.
• Büro für Städtebau (BfS+): Direct peer and recurring project partner of PLANWERK on multiple mandates including ILEK B 303+, Regionale Identität Landkreis Aschaffenburg, and E-Ladeinfrastruktur Landkreis Forchheim. Both firms are similar-sized German urban and regional planning consultancies serving municipal clients.
• Planungsgruppe Landschaft: Direct peer and partner on the Grüner Weg zum Faberwald project for Stadt Nürnberg (2019-2021). A German planning consultancy with overlapping municipal client base and comparable service offerings in landscape and urban planning.
• AR Climate+: Direct peer and partner on Kommunale Wärmeplanung projects for Stadt Passau and Stadt Herzberg am Harz (2025). Specializes in municipal heat planning — the same regulatory tailwind (WPG) service line that PLANWERK is scaling.
• SEP Stadtentwicklung Partnerschaft: Direct peer and partner on the ISEK project for Stadt Dachau (2021-2023). A German urban development planning consultancy of comparable size and service profile, competing in the same integrated urban development concept market.
• TB Markert: Direct peer and partner on the ISEK with GEK project for Gemeinde Eching in Niederbayern. A German municipal planning consultancy competing for the same integrated development concept mandates.
• Dr. Fruhmann & Partner: Direct peer and joint Umsetzungsbegleitung partner for rural development alliances (Allianz Donauschleife and Allianz Donau-Isar). Comparable in scope and target market, focused on integrated rural development and ILEK delivery.
• Topos team: Direct peer and partner on Quartiersmanagement Nürnberg Altstadt Nord/Süd (since 2017). A German neighborhood management and urban planning firm with overlapping service offerings in district management and citizen participation.

Broad incumbents

• Machleidt Städtebau: Berlin-based urban planning consultancy with established practice in integrated urban development, building culture, and master planning. Comparable service portfolio (ISEK, ILEK, participation) to PLANWERK but with larger team and broader geographic reach across Germany.
• bgmr Landschaftsarchitekten: Established Berlin-based landscape architecture and urban planning firm with significantly larger scale and broader portfolio spanning academic, public, and private sector projects. Operates in the same integrated urban development and landscape planning space as PLANWERK but with national and international reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/planwerk-stadtentwicklung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Planwerk Urban Development