Planungsstand

Planungsstand is a German term that denotes the current state or level of development of a planning process, especially in the fields of urban development, infrastructure projects and public administration. It indicates which planning stages have been completed, which documents have been adopted, and which procedural steps remain pending. The concept is used to provide transparency for stakeholders, to coordinate among different authorities, and to fulfill legal requirements for public participation and environmental assessment.

In German construction law, the planning procedure is divided into successive phases such as the preliminary planning (Vorplanung), the detailed planning (Entwurfsplanung), the approval planning (Genehmigungsplanung) and the execution planning (Ausführungsplanung). The Planungsstand specifies the exact phase reached at any given time, often expressed in terms of the relevant planning instruments, for example a zoning plan (Bebauungsplan) that has been passed by the municipal council, or a traffic impact assessment that has been approved by the responsible ministry.

Public authorities publish the Planungsstand in official notices, on websites or in printed bulletins, allowing citizens and interested parties to monitor progress and to raise objections within legally prescribed periods. In large‑scale projects such as highways, railways or renewable‑energy facilities, the Planungsstand is a key indicator for investors, because it determines the risk profile and the timing of financing.

The term is also employed in project management outside the public sector, where it serves as a status report on the completion of planning deliverables, helping to align resources and to plan subsequent implementation steps.