Urban Integration of Formal and Informal Flood Protection Planning in Stolberg (Rhld.) [in German]

English title and abstract for reference only. Original thesis written in German. The 2021 flood disaster in western Germany revealed the vulnerability of the built environment to natural disasters. It highlighted the necessity for planning strategies and subsequent structural measures aimed at enhancing urban flood resilience. This thesis explores this issue using the municipality of Stolberg (Rhineland) as a case study. By outlining the relevant legal frameworks at both federal and state levels, and by analysing formal and informal planning instruments applied in North Rhine-Westphalia and the municipality of Stolberg (Rhineland), the study investigates the extent to which existing flood protection planning has been implemented. Furthermore, it examines the degree to which the experiences gained in Stolberg (Rhineland)—particularly in light of the 2021 flood—can be transferred to other municipalities vulnerable to flooding. The analysis focuses on publicly owned buildings and transport infrastructure. The thesis concludes that, despite the significance of flood protection, formal planning instruments fail to adequately address the issue. Instead, measures contributing to local flood resilience are predominantly found within informal planning processes, many of which were developed following the 2021 event. Several of the strategies adopted in Stolberg (Rhineland) are identified as essential and transferable—albeit in adapted form—for other flood-prone communities.