Recent Developments in Jesteburg – March 2026

Climate-Friendly Investing, Planning, and Voting

What was important this month

• Bendestorf invests in heat pumps: A total of €70,068, including €45,544 in funding, will be used to replace the heating system in Bendestorf with a heat pump cascade.
• New election committees appointed: New election committees for the 2026–2031 local elections were appointed in both councils.
• Securing commercial land: Bendestorf has established pre-emption rights for the industrial park "Vor dem Moore" to enable long-term development.
• Reformed dog tax: Harmstorf adopted a new, transparent dog tax ordinance with exemptions for service and assistance dogs.
• Critical financial situation: The preliminary 2025 annual report in Harmstorf shows a surplus, but a negative financial asset balance – liquidity problems are looming.

Climate-Friendly Energy Transition Strategy in Bendestorf

In March 2026, Bendestorf took a central step toward climate protection: the renewal of the heating system through a heat pump cascade. With an investment of €70,068 and state funding of €45,544, this is a milestone on the path to CO2 reduction and long-term energy efficiency. In addition, it was decided to finance the swimming pool heat pumps with a targeted donation from Sparkasse Harburg-Buxtehude of €5,000.

Furthermore, an "Action Plan" was introduced to support council members in tracking their tasks. This shows that the municipality is not only modernizing its infrastructure but also its processes.

Urban Planning and Bauturbo: Planning in Focus

The Committee for Construction, Planning, and Environment in Bendestorf discussed three exemption requests according to the building regulations. Two of these requests were not approved, showing that the municipality consistently enforces its urban planning guidelines. At the same time, the so-called "Bauturbo" was discussed – a tool for accelerating housing construction. The municipality plans to clarify the areas of application and responsibilities for this process. In this context, urban planning contracts were also discussed as a prerequisite for approvals.

The legal foundations, particularly §§ 31, 34, and 36a of the Building Code (BauGB), were central to the decisions. The discussions show that Bendestorf remains active both in preserving existing planning and in accelerating construction projects.

Financial Tensions in Harmstorf

In Harmstorf, the municipal council faced financial challenges. The preliminary 2025 annual report shows a surplus of €164,442.37, but a negative financial asset balance of -€782,610.00. This means that the liquidity reserve will be exhausted by the end of 2026 – making a liquidity loan unavoidable. In addition, the district association fee was increased by 2 percentage points, which means a burden of €55,000 in 2026 and €35,000 annually from 2027 for Harmstorf. The municipality has already filed an objection to this decision.

In addition, a new, transparent dog tax ordinance was adopted. This provides exemptions for service and assistance dogs, as well as reductions for property guard dogs under certain conditions. The reform is a step toward greater fairness and transparency in tax law.

Preparing for the Local Elections

In both municipalities, election committees and deputy election committee members were appointed for the 2026–2031 local elections. This is a crucial step in preparing for the elections in the autumn of 2026. The individuals in the election committees are responsible for ensuring the proper conduct of the election process and bear great responsibility for the democratic functioning of the municipality.

Municipal Cooperation and Legal Foundations

The cooperation with the district association and the observance of legal requirements show that the municipalities in Jesteburg act actively and responsibly both at the regional level and individually. Legal foundations such as BauGB, NBauO, and specific administrative guidelines (VO/GB/011/26, etc.) were always central to the discussions.

Outlook: Stability, Climate Protection, and Planning Security

March 2026 was a month in Jesteburg marked by clear decisions in the areas of climate protection, financial policy, and urban planning. The investments in heat pumps demonstrate the willingness to act in a climate-friendly manner. At the same time, the financial stability of the municipalities is secured through liquidity loans and objections to fees. The current planning security through the establishment of pre-emption rights and Bauturbo regulations is a sign of long-term capability.

In April 2026, it will become clear whether the objections to the district association fee are successful and how the preparations for the local elections are progressing. Citizens can rely on transparent processes and clear decisions – even in challenging times.