Initiative plans legal challenge to Munich tower development

The HochhausSTOP citizens’ initiative plans to challenge Munich’s development plan for the Paketpost site, where an investor wants to build two 156-metre towers, BR reported on Wednesday.

The approximately nine-hectare site between Arnulfstrasse, the Friedenheim Bridge and the main railway line is also planned to include other buildings, around 1,200 homes and 3,000 jobs. In return, the Büschl Group plans to renovate the listed Paketpost Hall and open it to the public. The development plan came into force at the end of June.

HochhausSTOP criticises what it describes as ecological, transport and social planning failures. Its spokesman, CSU state parliament member Robert Brannekämper, says the city allowed the investor to avoid financial contributions to social infrastructure such as nurseries and parks, contrary to Munich’s rules on socially equitable land use.

Instead, he says, the city and investor agreed that the company would transfer turnkey apartments to the municipality. Brannekämper argues that this violates the prohibition on linking separate contractual obligations.

Munich’s planning department told BR that the Büschl Group had participated fully under the standard rules and that its required contributions had not been reduced. It also said there was no arrangement to offset apartments against infrastructure.

The initiative also argues that the site is among the city’s hottest areas and that dense development could lead to high energy costs because of the need for air conditioning. The planning department said experts had comprehensively examined and taken account of all environmental aspects in the development plan.

Opponents of the towers further accuse planners of failing to give adequate consideration to heritage protection. They say the towers could permanently harm the Nymphenburg Palace and park ensemble because of their dominance.

Former Munich mayor Christian Ude, a member of the Social Democratic Party, also criticises the plan. He points to a 2004 referendum against new buildings higher than 100 metres, saying the city council respected its result for around 20 years.

Ude had hoped residents would again be involved in the important urban planning decision. However, the city rejected a petition organised by HochhausSTOP and signed by more than 50,000 people as inadmissible. The Bavarian Administrative Court confirmed that decision. The city council did not initiate its own referendum.

Ude supports HochhausSTOP’s planned legal challenge to the development plan. The initiative cannot bring the case itself and needs support from associations or people directly affected, such as future neighbours. It has not disclosed whom it is negotiating with.

The initiative says it plans to file the case by Christmas this year. Munich city officials said they felt well prepared for a possible judicial review.