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Urban Development

Solutions for resilient, climate-friendly and liveable cities

Today’s cities face complex challenges: climate adaptation, digitalisation, mobility transition and increasing demands for sustainability and quality of life. TÜV NORD supports municipalities, energy providers, utilities and project developers with interdisciplinary expertise – from permitting issues and environmental/noise protection to safe and sustainable construction.

Luftaufnahme moderner Gebäude mit begrünten Dächern inmitten urbaner Bäume
Comprehensive support for urban transformation processes

Shaping sustainable urban development safely with TÜV NORD

Sustainable urban development is a central task for the future – for municipalities, energy providers, utilities, project developers and all companies shaping urban living spaces.

Whether climate resilience, digitalisation, resource-efficient infrastructure or liveable neighbourhoods: the requirements for modern cities continue to grow. TÜV NORD accompanies this development with independent expertise, technical safety and comprehensive solutions throughout the entire urban development process.

As a technical service provider and partner at eye level, we support our clients from planning and permitting processes through to implementation and inspection of urban infrastructure. Our services include, among others, environmental and noise assessments, air pollutant analyses, permitting management, sustainability strategies, construction quality monitoring and testing in connection with the energy and mobility transition – for example in charging infrastructure or hydrogen technologies.

We see urban development not only as a technical project, but as a system: aligning environmental compatibility, technical safety, economic viability and social requirements. Together with our clients, we lay the foundation for future-ready, climate-neutral and resilient cities.

And tomorrow, we will continue to accompany urban development projects with new solutions – such as smart neighbourhoods, digital construction processes or integrated energy and mobility concepts.

TÜV NORD stands for safety, neutrality and sustainability – today and in the cities of tomorrow.

Setzling in Händen

Sustainability as a strategic framework

Sustainable urban development means more than energy-efficient construction or climate-friendly mobility – it combines ecological, social and economic goals into a holistic approach. Cities are increasingly under pressure to become more liveable, resilient and resource-efficient at the same time.

TÜV NORD understands sustainability as the strategic framework for the city of the future: we help our partners to translate regulatory requirements such as ESG criteria, EU Taxonomy Regulation or the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into concrete, verifiable measures – with technical expertise, independence and system understanding.

Our vision of sustainability

Our key topics at a glance

Solaranlagen, Windräder und Strommasten bei Sonnenuntergang auf einem Feld
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY

Energy Industry and Utilities

Secure, decentralised and climate-friendly energy supply is at the core of modern urban development – from neighbourhood electricity and charging infrastructure to hydrogen solutions.
Energy Industry and Utilities
Mobility of the Future

Transport Transition

Transport and mobility are central levers for liveable cities. TÜV NORD provides inspection services, safety assessments, infrastructure projects (charging stations, hydrogen) and system solutions.
Transport Transition
Ingenieur mit Vermessungsgerät auf einer städtischen Großbaustelle
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

Construction and Technology

Construction quality, energy efficiency, refurbishment, construction supervision and component testing – TÜV NORD ensures building projects in city districts and infrastructure measures.
Construction and Technology

TÜV NORD areas of expertise for future-ready cities

Efficient support with complex permitting procedures

From application through to technical review in line with statutory requirements: Go to service

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)

Assessment of project impacts on the environment to ensure sustainable project decisions and planning processes: Go to service

Natura 2000 / Habitats Directive Compatibility

Expert assessments of project compliance with protected areas in line with the Habitats and Birds Directives: Go to service

Special Species Protection

Studies to meet species protection requirements in development planning and permitting: Go to service

Emissions, Immissions, Air Pollutants

Forecasts and analyses of pollutant dispersion, including emissions calculations and chimney heights: Go to service

Noise & Odour Assessments – Forecasts and measurements of noise and odour impacts for development planning, permitting or existing projects.

Odours

Sound / Acoustics

Urban Development Planning (acoustic aspects)

Acoustic assessments for noise prevention and evaluation in urban planning: Go to service

Sustainability strategy & management

Development, implementation and evaluation of company- and project-related sustainability strategies. TÜV NORD supports the integration of sustainability goals, regulatory requirements (e.g. EU Taxonomy, CSRD) and standardised management systems – for credible and effective sustainability in the urban context. Go to service

Environmental Officers / Waste / Water

We provide external officers according to statutory requirements – for emissions control, waste management and water protection. In this way we support cities, utilities and operators in the legally compliant organisation of operational environmental protection: practical, independent and technically sound.

Emissions Control Officers

Waste Officers

Water Protection Officers

ESG Strategy for Companies

What lies behind ESG – and how to get started? This compact overview shows why environment, social responsibility and good corporate governance are playing an ever greater role in urban development projects. Find out more

Building Physics

Whether energy efficiency, sound insulation or moisture protection – with building physics verifications and simulations TÜV NORD ensures the technical quality of new builds and refurbishments. Go to service

Building Refurbishment 

Technical consultancy and expert evaluation of refurbishment measures – for value retention, sustainability and long-term building safety in the existing stock. Go to service

Construction Quality Monitoring

Independent support for construction projects – to ensure early fault detection, quality assurance and compliance with technical standards from planning to handover. Go to service

Building Acoustics

Testing and evaluation of sound insulation and room acoustics – for greater comfort and compliant execution in residential, educational or commercial construction.
Go to service

Construction Noise

Expert assessment and forecasting of construction noise – to minimise impacts on residents and comply with legal requirements. Go to service

Charging Infrastructure & E-Mobility 

Planning, inspection and operational safety of charging infrastructure – TÜV NORD supports cities, companies and operators in expanding reliable e-mobility. Go to service

Hydrogen in Urban Mobility 

Consulting, testing and safety technology for the use of hydrogen in transport – for an emission-free and future-ready mobility transition in urban areas. Go to service

Energy Storage and Storage Systems

Efficient and safe energy storage is a key factor for the urban energy transition. TÜV NORD inspects and certifies stationary and mobile storage systems – for greater supply security, grid stability and sustainable neighbourhood solutions. Go to service

Energy Efficiency in Neighbourhoods

Energy-efficient neighbourhood solutions form the backbone of sustainable urban development. TÜV NORD supports concepts, measures and documentation – from heat supply to building integration. Find out more

Smart cities need interconnected systems: sensors, digital planning and secure data infrastructure are central components of modern urban development. TÜV NORD IT develops forward-looking solutions – from IoT applications and BIM/GIS to cybersecurity in the urban context.

Noise Protection (transport, sport, industry) 

Forecasts, measurements and assessments for noise prevention – for quieter cities and low-impact environments in planning and operation. Zur Übersicht

Odour Emissions

Identifying, measuring and assessing odour sources – for greater acceptance in sensitive locations and permit-relevant projects.

Odour Measurements

Odour Forecasts

Building Pollutants

Identification and evaluation of pollutants in buildings – for safe refurbishment, demolition and healthy living. Go to service