As of summer 2025, BUWOG has taken over the planning for the Baumwollquartier development in Cologne. Following BUWOG’s assessment of the project’s progress thus far, relevant sections of the blueprints now need to be reviewed and, if necessary, revised before the overall project can be carried out.

BUWOG is currently reviewing the documents provided to us and is in consultation with the relevant authorities and administrative agencies, as well as with various trades involved in this project.

Project developer BUWOG remains committed to Cologne as an attractive city with a high quality of life and positive overall economic development. Despite this, the new Baumwollquartier construction project will be temporarily paused. However, the transformation of the approximately 24,000 m² site into a neighbourhood development with an estimated 250 apartments, divided into rental units and condominiums, as well as a daycare centre and residential-related commercial space, is still planned and will be advanced as quickly as possible.

The reason for the necessary temporary pause is that, among other factors, the general development of construction costs for this project has a relevant impact on the economic viability of the building plans. During the pause in construction and until work resumes, the project developer will examine internal optimisations that improve the project’s economic viability and adapt conceptual details to changed conditions. This planning update also includes a review and possible adaptation of the apartment floor plans and solutions to outstanding technical issues. However, this will not have a deteriorating impact on the overall premium architectural quality of the planned development.

The residential mix, with its desired wide range of compact, medium-sized and large apartments in this location, and the creation of housing options for a variety of target groups will not fundamentally change as a result of the planned process for optimisation. Rather, the original plans, which are now somewhat outdated, can be better adapted to changing housing needs by adjusting the layout of the apartments, as necessary.

Even though the completion dates for the Baumwollquartier development will be significantly delayed compared to previous plans, BUWOG’s priority is the quality of the project over the speed of construction – even if this requires a bit more patience during a phase of approximately one year in which the construction site will be dormant. During this period, the site will be professionally secured and protected from unauthorised access by site surveillance. BUWOG has also commissioned specialist companies to carry out the necessary, timely securing of the listed buildings to be preserved.

About BUWOG

BUWOG looks back on over 70 years of experience in the residential property business and currently has a development pipeline in Germany of approximately 55,000 residential units under construction and in planning. With its new construction projects and neighbourhood developments, BUWOG is creating new residential space throughout Germany and pursuing a committed sustainability agenda. BUWOG is a subsidiary of Vonovia SE, Europe’s leading residential company, which is located in Bochum (Germany).