Housing snub for Schumacher
German motor racing star Michael Schumacher has seen his plans to build a luxury Swiss mansion rejected by the national authorities.
The four-time Formula One world champion was hoping to build his new home, along with stables and indoor house track, near the Appenzeller village of Wolfhalden. But on Tuesday, Schumacher was told that his proposals contravened the planning law and did not fit in with the local environment.
The director of the federal office for land development, Pierre-Alain Rumley, stressed that the office’s decision was not against the Schumacher family itself nor their plans to live in the Appenzell region.
Rumley was also convinced that the Swiss courts would share the opinion of the federal office. He added that the only choice left for Schumacher was probably to choose a location other than Guggenbuehel.
Environmental opposition
Environment organisations were among those who had already opposed Schumacher’s plans.
The German racing driver is currently based in the canton Vaud village of Vufflens-le-Chateau but is keen to have his children brought up in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
Schumacher was due to meet environmentalists in April to talk them out of their current opposition. However his lawyer has previously suggested that the sports star will give up his plans rather than take the matter to the Swiss courts.
swissinfo with agencies
In compliance with the JTI standards
More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.