Danish project company Femern receives planning approval for Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link with CMS support

Hamburg – On 31 January 2019, the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour, Transport and Technology issued planning approval for construction of the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link. Extensive surveys were carried out over many years in relation to the cross-border infrastructure project, including looking at environmental aspects, traffic considerations, geotechnical engineering and the safety of shipping. Some 35,000 pages of application documents were prepared for the planning approval procedure on the German section of the project. The planning approval, which runs to more than 1,300 pages, will now be published and can be challenged before the Federal Administrative Court. The Danish part of the tunnel was approved in 2015 via a building law passed by the Danish parliament.

CMS has advised the Danish developer, Femern A/S, on all aspects of the project since 2011. The team headed by Dr Christiane Kappes will represent Femern A/S in the expected lawsuits before the Federal Administrative Court.

The almost 18-kilometre-long tunnel between the Danish island of Rødby and the German island of Fehmarn will consist of a four-lane motorway and a double-track electrified railway line. Involving investment of over EUR 7 billion, this is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe. State-owned Danish project company Femern A/S is handling planning of the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link together with Schleswig-Holstein’s State Agency for Roads and Transport. It will also construct and operate the tunnel.

CMS Germany

Dr Christiane Kappes, Lead Partner
Dr Fritz von Hammerstein, Partner
Dr Neele Ann Christiansen, Senior Associate
Sebastian Belz, Senior Associate
Dr Clara Volkert, Senior Associate
Dr Shalene Edwards, Associate
Lina König, Associate, all Environmental and Planning Law

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