Germany: Can listing a building stand in the way of its conservation?

The parish of Daun, which could no longer maintain the Thomas-Morus-Church from the ’70s, has decided in November 2013 to sell the building, which was to be used for a housing project. The building is in a state of disrepair and has been used very seldom since 2011.

However, the Denkmalschutzkommission (Committee for heritage protection) considers te building to merit protection as a valuable piece of heritage and wants it to be listed. The parish will take the issue to court, arguing that once the building is listed, it will be impossible to find a buyer and an alternative use for the building – whilst the cost of repairs and maintenance will continue to be high. “What use is it to have a monument which is falling into ruin?”

Read more in German here.