Social responsibility

Relocated residents had to make an important sacrifice for the expansion of the airport – they left homes where families had lived for generations. In compensation, relocation had to adhere to the notion of social responsibility, which involved maintaining the social ties of the residents by moving them to a new joint location. Furthermore, on the basis of resettlement agreements with the communities, new living conditions had to be equal to what residents enjoyed before the relocation, according to the "new for old" principle. A family with 120 sq. metres of living space was also entitled to a new house at the new location with 120 sq. metres of space, and amenities comparable to the original home. Compensation was also provided for gardens and auxiliary structures, including garages, sheds and workshops.

The new home for former residents of Diepensee is the Diepensee district in the town of Königs Wusterhausen. Residents were involved in virtually every aspect of the planning to ensure that the village character of Diepensee would be maintained at the new location. A majority of the relocated persons from Selchow moved to Gross Ziethen, south of Berlin.

For the first time in the history of relocation projects, owners and tenants were treated equally and extensively involved in the planning of the new location. The relative smoothness of the relocation process confirms the success of this approach. By involving residents at an early stage and giving them a voice in regular, open and often heated debates at all stages of planning, it was possible to recognise and resolve potential conflicts early on. Not all wishes and demands could be met, but discussions, workshops and public forums helped build a basis for trust that paved the way for solutions that everyone could accept.