More dense construction in Switzerland
Published: Thursday, May 16th 2024, 10:50
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In recent years, more apartments have been built on already built-up areas in Switzerland than on vacant building plots. In addition, residential construction activity in the cities was lower than in the countryside, as the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE) announced on Thursday.
It commissioned a corresponding study and conducted its own analyses. The study by real estate consultants Wüest Partner on residential construction from 2012 to 2023 was intended to provide information on the impact of the partially revised Spatial Planning Act. This law came into force in 2013 and aims to stop urban sprawl and increase the density of settlements.
According to the findings, 59% of building permits for projects on already developed plots were granted between 2018 and 2022. These included the conversion of former industrial sites, additions of storeys or replacement new builds. Residential construction in unbuilt-up building zones decreased. The fewer building zone reserves a municipality has, the more is built in existing settlements.
New apartments in already built-up areas were mainly built in urban areas such as Basel or Zurich. According to the ARE, however, there were also many rural areas or areas located between agglomerations with housing construction in settlements. Housing construction was even stronger there than in the cities.
According to the information provided, building housing in existing settlements poses a greater challenge than on undeveloped plots. However, there are also factors that favor high-density construction. These include an active and growth-oriented municipality, high-quality projects with generous open spaces, for example, and lower land prices than in surrounding municipalities.
©Keystone/SDA
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