Planning terms are often deeply embedded in the administrative and planning culture of a specific country, making direct translation challenging.
This English-language glossary provides translations and explanations of key terms used in the German planning system, aiming to support international discourse and improve accessibility for non-German-speaking audiences. We strive for consistency in terminology across this platform and in ARL publications, which can be accessed here.
The definitions are based on the national glossary for Germany, developed as part of the BSR INTERREG III B project COMMIN.
Click here to perform a search based on the English term.
Hier können sie vom deutschen Begriff ausgehend suchen.
The term goes back to the central places theory: higher order centres are designated by state spatial planning and meet demanding, specialised requirements of the population in the extended catchment area (technical colleges / universities, specialised clinics, large department stores, etc.). High-order centres also have a greater supply of highly qualified and skilled labour.
