Germany: Cable car construction halted pending environmental review

A court has temporarily halted the construction of a new cable car at Fellhorn in the Allgäu region, a project that was among the first approved under Bavaria's controversial modernization law. This law aims to reduce bureaucracy by waiving environmental impact assessments for certain construction projects.

The Fellhornbahn GmbH, the lift operator, announced it would proceed with the environmental assessment in cooperation with authorities. This move preempts a final court decision, as the Augsburg Administrative Court has not yet ruled on the necessity of the assessment. The court ordered the halt because it needs to determine if approving the project without an assessment complies with European Union regulations.

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We are now creating the conditions to develop the project quickly on a legally sound basis.

The Landesbund für Vogel- und Naturschutz in Bayern (LBV), an environmental group, had challenged the project. They are now calling for a complete cessation of all construction activities, including new ski slopes that were approved in a separate procedure. The LBV argues that the area is ecologically vital and serves as a habitat for the black grouse, a species endangered in Bavaria.

The lift company stated that initiating the environmental review would create a legally sound basis for developing the project. However, the LBV insists that no further damage should occur while the project's legality remains in question. The court did, however, allow construction to continue on new ski slopes, which were part of a separate approval process.

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As long as the legality of this project has not been finally clarified, no further damage should occur.