Landowners halt Brienz relocation plan to Vazerol

Landowners have stopped plans to relocate residents of Brienz in the Swiss canton of Graubünden to Vazerol, the preferred destination for many residents, SRF reported on Friday.

About 80 percent of residents had previously said they would most like to move to the hamlet. The plan is now unlikely to go ahead.

The decision is linked to a land consolidation carried out in the 1980s. Several parcels were merged into a larger plot intended for future development, while the landowners were granted rights to parts of the land if it was later rezoned for construction.

The land is still classified as agricultural. Building new homes would require it to be designated as building land, and the municipality would need the approval of every landowner. Some owners do not want to sell their land to the municipality, which said it respected their decision.

The municipality can still offer two alternative relocation sites, in Tiefencastel and Alvaneu. Both are located in a valley that receives less sunlight than Vazerol. The municipality says both relocation zones should be developed, subject to a vote at the municipal assembly on August 25. The vote will include decisions on land consolidation and zoning plans.

Residents have submitted 42 relocation applications. In July, the Albula municipal assembly approved more than 82 million Swiss francs for the move. The federal government and the canton of Graubünden will cover most of the cost, while the municipality of Albula will contribute about 360,000 francs. Those relocating will have to pay the remainder themselves.

Brienz was narrowly missed by a debris flow from a landslide.