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Desperate family: monument protection prohibits solar systems on the roof - although the house is not a monument at all

2023-03-08T09:55:49.171Z


In Regensburg, a family is suing the monument protection authority for approval of a solar system for the roof of the house. The building is not even a monument.


In Regensburg, a family is suing the monument protection authority for approval of a solar system for the roof of the house.

The building is not even a monument.

Regensburg – The approval of solar systems on historic buildings is a sensitive topic that is currently causing discussions in the city of Regensburg.

But while loosening the protection of monuments could possibly ease the way for photovoltaics in the historical world heritage site, some applicants outside of Regensburg's old town feel downright "ridiculed" due to the regulations for the protection of monuments.

Dispute with monument protection: The affected building is not a monument

At least that's how Edwin Raab feels.

He says: "Whenever I hear that with solar energy you have to use the potential outside of Regensburg's old town, I get a fit of screams."

Since March 2022, Raab and his family have wanted to equip the roof of their house with photovoltaics.

But the monument protection has meanwhile brought her to the brink of despair.

The building is located far outside the world heritage zone, in the district of Großprüfening.

The house is not even a monument.

However, and that is the crux of the matter, there is a so-called "proximity" between two listed buildings.

And that makes the procedure more difficult than expected.

First request for solar system: monument protection sees little prospects

As early as March of last year, the Raabs contacted the Lower Monument Protection Authority, based in the city of Regensburg, to clarify whether a monument protection permit is required for a photovoltaic system.

The clerk's answer was unequivocal: A permit under monument protection law was necessary, but there was little chance of applying for one.

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Numerous solar roofs in the area - without permission?

Nevertheless, the Raab family did not give up.

Reference was made to eleven houses in Großprüfening that were already equipped with photovoltaics.

Most of them without permission.

There are no procedures on record, the city monument office said.

But that didn't help the Raabs.

The city's monument conservationist informed them that the classic solar modules are not a variant that can be approved.

Instead, he suggested solar roof tiles.

However, according to Raab, these are two and a half times as expensive and more prone to errors than conventional solar modules.

And there are also no funding opportunities to implement this more expensive variant in terms of monument protection: After all, the Raabs' house is not a monument.

A gap, as the municipal clerk also admits.

Approval for only one half of the roof – a compromise?

After some back-and-forth, the Raabs finally received approval for the east side of their roof in May, while the west side was rejected.

The neighboring buildings, the Johann-Gebhard-Haus and the Goldener Hirsch, are important testimonies to the history of the Großprüfening district, which would be significantly impaired by solar modules on the roof of the Raabs, according to the corresponding notification.

Family sues the city of Regensburg

After all, even black modules with a black frame can be seen from near or far and would disturb the monumental character.

The Raabs have now filed a lawsuit.

The city of Regensburg, on the other hand, speaks of a "case that nicely shows how solar energy could already be used in the monument environment according to the previous legal situation and thus shows in an exemplary manner how renewable energies and cultural heritage can be constructively reconciled".

You can always read all the news from Regensburg and the surrounding area as well as from all over Bavaria with us.

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Source: merkur

All news articles on 2023-03-08

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