Court rejects objection to refugee accommodation in Selmsdorf

Court rejects objection to refugee accommodation in Selmsdorf

The issue of refugee accommodation is currently causing a stir in northwest Mecklenburg. On June 19, 2025, the Schwerin Administrative Court issued a decision concerning the building permit for container accommodation in Selmsdorf. This accommodation, which will accommodate 100 refugees, will be built on agricultural land to the west of the sports field area. The courts considered the exemption from the existing development plan to be legal and at the same time clearly explained the district's need for accommodation. According to Law and Politics, the judges are of the opinion that no unreasonable noise pollution is to be expected. However, the decision is not yet legally binding and the possibility of filing a complaint with the Higher Administrative Court of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania remains.

The approval itself was granted in March 2025 and is limited until 2028. Two living containers are planned, which will be equipped with communal kitchens, sanitary rooms and an administration building. This is a partial replacement for accommodation in Upahl that has not yet been realized. It is interesting that the existing development plan since 2011 does not contain any realistic possible uses, although they were intended for fire brigade purposes and as a building yard.

Protests in Upahl and legal disputes

While progress is being made in Selmsdorf, the situation in Upahl looks completely different. A construction project for a container accommodation that was supposed to create space for 400 refugees was stopped for the time being. According to [Beck Aktuell](https://rsw.beck.de/aktuell/daily/melde/detail/vg-Schwerin-fluechtlingsunterkunft-upahl-darf-vorerst-nicht-bau- Werden), the Schwerin Administrative Court approved an interim order because the municipality's right to participation was disregarded. The district is now forced to stop construction work until legal approval is received. There is unrest in the community because many citizens fear that the planned container village is simply too big for the 500 residents of Upahl.

The critics' argument is clear: the local infrastructure is not sufficient to accommodate so many people. In addition, the villagers do not feel sufficiently included in their decision-making processes. This highlights how important local participation is in these issues.

Legal framework for refugee accommodation

The legal aspects surrounding the construction of refugee accommodation should not be underestimated. The Building Code (BauGB) provides for special regulations for such projects, which can vary depending on the federal state. According to Juraforum, a simplified permit is possible in certain federal states in order to accelerate the necessary accommodation of refugees. The previous regulations could be used to speed up the construction process in emergency situations without the consent of the municipality being automatically granted unless it was refused in a timely manner.

In view of these regulations, it becomes clear how variable the legal basis for refugee accommodation is and how crucial the political and social discussion can be for the implementation of these projects. A good hand is required here to find a compromise between the need for accommodation and the needs of the local population.