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Bundeswehr wants MFG 5 site back – city of Kiel in a quandary!
Kiel plans to use the former MFG 5 site for housing, while the Bundeswehr is seeking to buy it back for military purposes.
Bundeswehr wants MFG 5 site back – city of Kiel in a quandary!
Something is happening again in Kiel - the former area of the Naval Aviation Squadron 5 (MFG 5) is the focus of interest. The squadron was withdrawn from Kiel-Holtenau seven years ago and has since set up camp in Nordholz. The approximately 92 hectare site, equipped with a rail connection and bunker, was acquired by the city of Kiel for 30 million euros at the beginning of 2023 in order to create living space for over 2,000 new apartments. The plans for this new district, which is intended to appeal primarily to young families, were approved by the city council last year. But now everything could be different!
How Defense Network Reportedly, the Bundeswehr is planning to buy back the site for military use. Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack described the area as an “excellent location” for the sea battalion, which consists of eight companies. These companies are responsible for a variety of tasks, including the protection of ships, bases, and ports, as well as multinational amphibious operations. The first discussions about the buyback are scheduled to begin after the summer break.
Buyback and urban development
The situation is tricky. The original plan to develop the new district in Holtenau-Ost on the MFG 5 site was stopped for the time being due to the lack of a new location for the Tonnhof. The move of the Tonnhof to the Plushow Harbor was considered unrealistic. After this setback, the Bundeswehr contacted Mayor Ulf Kampf and is showing great interest in reacquiring the site, it is reported Kiel Current.
The political reactions are mixed. The CDU welcomes the Bundeswehr's request and sees it as an opportunity for a new start. The SPD, on the other hand, calls for solutions that combine both military presence and urban development without committing one-sidedly to military use. The SSW expresses concerns about the value of the area and the resources already invested in the planning. Meanwhile, the Die Linke/Die Party council faction has rejected the buyback and warns of the loss of invested funds that are urgently needed for affordable housing and urban development.
A look at Naval Aviation Squadron 5
Naval Aviation Squadron 5 was founded on January 1, 1958 and is subordinate to the Naval Aviation Command. Its main tasks include search and rescue (SAR) on the North and Baltic Seas. The squadron is currently equipped with modern Sea Lion and Sea Lynx helicopters and even operates a training center for the Portuguese Navy. After the Nordholz air base was put into operation in 2012, the move took place from Kiel-Holtenau, where the squadron had its home base from 1958 to 2013 Wikipedia explained.
What happens next remains exciting. The city of Kiel is at a fork in the road and must weigh up whether the military return to the former MFG 5 site represents an opportunity for revitalization or a threat to the urgently needed housing projects. The pressure on the decision-makers is increasing and we will be curious to see how the negotiations will develop.