Dispute over new holiday homes: Reichenbach-Steegen in turmoil!

Dispute over new holiday homes: Reichenbach-Steegen in turmoil!

In Reichenbach-Steegen, a planned construction project is causing lively discussions among residents. Six to eight new holiday cabins and an outbuilding are planned, which are to be built by the Landau company La Pampa. The local mayor Kathrin Wolf, who is committed to redesigning the Wildfrauenloch, sees an opportunity for a positive tourism effect here, in keeping with the development of the region.

The community is currently under pressure as the first reports on the buildability of the holiday homes are in progress. The results are expected in spring 2026 and the construction period depends significantly on these results. In any case, critics of the project are concerned about possible environmental consequences and the question of whether the new holiday apartments can actually be of benefit to tourism. SWR reports that an interest group called “Fockenberg-Limbach Ferienhäuser” was founded to protest against the plans.

The reactions from the community

Citizens' skepticism had a strong influence on the discussion. Many residents only find out about the plans after the lease has been signed. However, the local mayor rejects the accusation of a lack of communication and refers to a public council meeting in March. There are also concerns about the use of existing infrastructure, which has limited capacity for tourists. Residents criticize the fact that many holiday apartments in the area are already empty and that further expansion does not really seem necessary.

To take residents' concerns seriously, the interest group organized an information session with La Pampa. But a citizens' petition against the construction project was rejected by the local community as inadmissible. Booking.com currently offers a selection of holiday homes in Reichenbach-Steegen and the surrounding area that are on the market as holiday destinations and offer space for families or larger groups. These houses are often surrounded by beautiful nature and are well developed, but it remains to be seen whether they will still have the necessary support in the future.

Potential for tourism

Reiner Nagel, chairman of the Federal Foundation for Building Culture, also discusses whether the new holiday homes can actually make a valuable contribution to the tourism infrastructure. He emphasizes the social importance of tourism and good building culture, especially in rural areas where high-quality tourism infrastructure can make the difference. Nagel advocates the preservation and conversion of buildings that characterize the townscape in order to preserve the regional character. urlaubsarchitektur.de shows that holidays in harmony with the cultural landscape offer much more than just a place to stay overnight.

Overall, the question remains whether the planned minimum standard of sustainable construction and the integration of holiday homes into the existing landscape are sufficient to meet the needs of local residents and at the same time achieve the desired tourism boom. It will be exciting to see how the situation will develop in the coming months.