© Screenshot aus der Evaluation du projet
Luxembourg City has ruled that the proposed Forêt d'Or hotel complex in Kockelscheuer is too large in scale, with no building permit requested or approved so far, though the project could move forward in a reduced form if it meets planning and environmental requirements.
The plan, presented by developer and construction firm Felix Giorgetti, envisions a vast complex opposite the new national stadium on a seven-hectare site in Kockelscheuer. It includes a hotel with over 500 rooms, a restaurant and wellness centre, an event hall for more than 4,000 people, and hundreds of parking spaces. However, as city councillors learned on Tuesday, the project's size remains a major obstacle before any construction can move forward.
Although the initial design has already been revised, recent environmental impact studies raised further concerns in several areas that the developer must now address.
Councillor François Benoy from The Greens (Déi Gréng) said his group supports the idea of developing something on the site but is alarmed by the project's dimensions. He stressed that such a massive complex could have serious repercussions for the landscape, environment, and mobility in the surrounding area and called on the city's executive board to ensure that the project is properly managed and adapted to local needs.
He also noted that the broader stadium district is already set to grow significantly, with other developments planned nearby, including a swimming pool and the Tramsschapp Sports and Cultural Centre.
Responding to the concerns, Mayor Lydie Polfer from the Democratic Party (DP) clarified that no building permit has been requested or granted for the hotel project to date. She said the city informed the property owners and promoters at their last meeting in June that the project was too large on several counts and would need to be completely reconsidered. Since then, the municipality has received no new submission, she said.
As things stand, there is no project that could receive a building permit from the City of Luxembourg, Polfer explained, adding that questions about when construction might begin or finish do not depend on the city, as no application is currently under review.
Polfer also reminded councillors that within this recreational zone, construction may not exceed 15% of the total land area, and the municipality has no intention of changing its general development plan (PAG) to accommodate this project.
Nevertheless, Polfer acknowledged that an initiative of this kind could be economically beneficial if properly scaled and compliant with regulations, a view also shared by the Ministry of the Economy, she noted. Should the project meet all planning and environmental requirements, there would be nothing preventing it from eventually receiving authorisation, Polfer concluded.
