Any urban development planning involves abiding by the over-arching planning regulations, in particular the objectives set out in the regional planning, as these are binding on the local authorities undertaking the planning. If a local authority's planning intentions do not, however, concur with the regional planning objectives, then in order to realize the plans a local authority can apply to the relevant approvals authority for permission to deviate from the set planning objectives. This can prove expedient in the case of areas where an existing disruptive usage may be abandoned at short notice meaning the area can be used for different planning purposes.

As early as 2015 AS+P successfully compiled the documents applying to for permission to deviate from set planning objectives for a conversion project initiated by Wissenschaftsstadt Darmstadt. On the back of the positive experience gained at that time, in 2017 the relevant documents were again prepared by AS+P, this time for planning a residential and mixed-usage quarter on downtown wastelands in Damrstadt's so-called Verlegerviertel; this had become necessary in light of the current growth in Darmstadt's population, a trend set to continue. Thanks to the tried-and-true consultation processes between AS+P and Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt as regards the requirements and formalities, the process was moved ahead swiftly. On Nov. 10, 2017 Regionalversammlung Südhessen discussed the documents submitted and approved permission to deviate from the set planning objectives.