Cologne cathedral may lose UN status in skyscraper row

One of the Europe's most spectacular cathedrals faces being stripped of its world heritage title unless city planners withdraw plans to build skyscrapers nearby.

Although the gothic spires of Cologne cathedral are among the world's most treasured historic gems, Unesco chiefs have given the city an ultimatum: either cancel plans to build three further 30-storey blocks, or the building loses its prestigious status.

Last year, Unesco put the cathedral on its red-alert list of endangered world heritage sites, in response to plans to build the high-rise buildings near the cathedral.

At a committee meeting in Durban, South Africa, this week, the UN body went a step further by giving Cologne a year to scrap plans to complete the buildings. Unesco argues that the office blocks could spoil the dramatic views of the "endangered" site on the banks of the Rhine.

Baffled town planners say that the buildings, one of which is already complete, are on the opposite side of the river and could not spoil the landscape.

Cologne's director of development and planning, Bernd Streitberger, said: "The world heritage site is only supposed to be the cathedral, not the whole city.

"The high-rise buildings will be more than a kilometre away on the other side of the river. The classic view on the left side of the river bank will not be touched."

The cathedral was one of the few historic gems which remained intact after Cologne was bombed during the second world war.

The city's mayor, Fritz Schramma, said he could appreciate Unesco's view, but he was not prepared to halt construction of the disputed tower blocks.

"As mayor of a city with a million people, I have to secure not only this protection, but also the economic future of its citizens," he said in a statement.

Speaking from Durban airport yesterday, Professor Barbara Schock-Werner, the chief architect of the cathedral which needs constant repair, said she was dismayed by the "aggressive" manner of the Unesco members.

"I think the conditions they laid down are extremely harsh, as Cologne cathedral is one of the best examples of heritage around." But she added that she hoped the city architects would reassess their plans for the other tower blocks.

Dieter Offenhäusser, deputy secretary for the German commission of Unesco, confirmed that the committee was "resolute to eliminate" the cathedral from its world heritage list, if the city went ahead with plans to build the other three office blocks.

He added: "The cathedral is not just a museum. It needs to be considered in the context of its surroundings.

"Cologne does not understand why Unesco is intervening in its city affairs. But it should realise that it is dealing with a United Nations organisation which has strict rules to respect buffer zones around each world heritage site."

Unesco has now invited Cologne to reassess it architectural plans and submit a report by February 1 next year. The committee does not, however, expect town planners to tear down the office block which has been erected.

Work began on Cologne cathedral in 1248. When the construction was completed in 1880, it was the world's biggest and tallest building, with its 7,000 square metre (22,970 sq ft) façade and 157 metre-high (515ft) spires.

At the moment there are 788 sites on the world heritage list, of which 30 are classified as endangered. The World Heritage Committee is due to announce a further dozen sites later this week.