immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

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  • Government council doubles housing subsidies

    Government council doubles housing subsidies

    The Government Council of the Canton of Zurich rejects the popular initiative “More affordable housing in the Canton of Zurich”, which provides for a right of first refusal for municipalities to promote non-profit housing construction. Instead, the cantonal government relies on proven structures and instruments for the rapid and effective promotion of affordable housing.

    The counter-proposal provides for a doubling of the framework credit for cantonal housing promotion loans from the current CHF 180 million to CHF 360 million. This enables co-financing at communal level and thus creates a potential of CHF 720 million. This means that more flats can be subsidised and higher loan amounts can be granted per property. The Housing Promotion Ordinance is to be amended accordingly to increase the upper limit for loans from 20 to 25 per cent of the total investment costs.

    Criticism of the right of first refusal – encroachment on the guarantee of ownership
    The Government Council criticises the proposed right of first refusal in the popular initiative as an encroachment on the guarantee of ownership and freedom of contract. Private companies, including institutional investors such as pension funds, would be at a disadvantage, which could lead to legal uncertainty and deter private investment. This could inhibit residential construction activities and exacerbate the existing housing shortage.

    The right of first refusal also harbours the risk of lengthy appeal proceedings and could place a burden on municipalities and their taxpayers. The cantonal government sees the counter-proposal as a more efficient solution for creating affordable housing quickly.

    Housing shortage in the canton of Zurich
    Demand for housing in the canton of Zurich has exceeded supply for years. Construction activity is below average, which is leading to an increasing housing shortage. Although a large proportion of Zurich’s population lives in long-term tenancies and is therefore less affected by rising rental costs, the need for action remains great.

    The Government Council emphasises the need to stimulate construction activity in order to increase the overall supply of housing and curb rental and purchase prices. The counter-proposal aims to provide targeted housing for financially disadvantaged sections of the population.

    Effective promotion instead of right of first refusal
    The government council’s counter-proposal promises rapid and effective promotion of non-profit housing construction by doubling the framework credit and amending the Housing Promotion Ordinance. This will create a solid basis for combating the housing shortage in the canton of Zurich and providing more affordable housing for all sections of the population.

  • Laurent Decrue new member of the Board of Directors of newhome.ch AG

    Laurent Decrue new member of the Board of Directors of newhome.ch AG

    Laurent Decrue brings extensive entrepreneurial experience and digital expertise to the Board of Directors. As founder of the moving company Movu, former CEO of Bexio and co-founder and CEO of Holycode, he is a valuable asset to Newhome. Decrue succeeds Prof Dr Dr Christian Wunderlin.

    Digital expertise for future direction
    Dr Roman Timm, CEO of Newhome, is delighted with the new addition: “With Laurent, we have been able to gain one of the most influential figures in the Swiss start-up landscape. He brings with him important entrepreneurial expertise as well as in-depth digital knowledge. This supports our strategy towards a customer-centric, transparent and industry-friendly platform.”

    Laurent Decrue is pursuing ambitious goals: “My aim is to make the property market as open and transparent as possible to ensure that pricing in the Swiss property landscape is not distorted by a monopoly position. I am convinced that Newhome can help to improve the property search in Switzerland.”

    In February 2024, Manuel Bächi and Andreas Schiller joined the Board of Directors as part of AXA’s investment in Newhome.

  • Digital next gen and AI usher in a new era

    Digital next gen and AI usher in a new era

    Like many other sectors, the construction and property industry is facing major challenges. Digitalisation is progressing inexorably, revolutionary technologies are emerging and sustainability requirements are constantly increasing. There is also a shortage of specialists with digital skills. “Our response to these challenges is the establishment of the ‘Digital Next Gen’ Expert Group,” says Genova. “Our aim is to bring together digital talent from across the industry and work together on innovative solutions for a sustainable and digitalised future.”

    Genova brings extensive expertise from his professional career and his studies. A trip to China was particularly formative, where he gained valuable insights into digital transformation. The Digital Next Gen initiative offers him a platform to use his skills and drive forward the digital transformation in the construction and property industry.

    Objectives of the “Digital Next Gen” Expert Group
    Establishing a centre of excellence for digital technologies and trends to effectively tackle the digital challenges facing the construction industry.

    Identify and promote innovative digital solutions and business models in Switzerland

    Creating bridges between research, business and practice in order to put innovative ideas and technologies into practice more quickly.

    “We aim to play a leading role in shaping the digital transformation in the construction industry,” emphasises Genova.

    Opportunities and challenges of the digital evolution
    Digitalisation offers significant opportunities for the construction industry, such as efficiency gains, cost reductions, more environmentally friendly construction practices and the development of new business models. However, there are also challenges such as high investment costs, data protection issues and a shortage of skilled labour. “We must tackle these challenges with determination in order to fully exploit the opportunities of digitalisation,” says Genova. “The future belongs to the brave and the pioneers, and we are ready to take on this role.”

    Upcoming digital technologies and trends
    The construction industry is at the beginning of a new era, characterised by groundbreaking digital technologies. Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT) as well as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are some of the key technologies that will revolutionise the industry. “We are ready to pave the way for this digital revolution and face the challenges that lie ahead,” explains Genova.

    Talent sought for the Expert Group
    The Expert Group is looking for talented individuals with extensive expertise in digital technologies such as AI, IoT, blockchain, AR/VR and 3D printing. In addition to technological skills, an innovative spirit, experience in the construction industry, the ability to work in a team and an understanding of sustainable construction practices are important. “We are counting on a new generation of talent who are ready to take the lead in this technological revolution,” concludes Genova.

    Digitalisation is not only a challenge, but also an opportunity to fundamentally transform the construction and real estate industry. The “Digital Next Gen” Expert Group is ready to actively shape this transformation and create a sustainable, digitalised future.

  • Cross-border territorial vision 2050

    Cross-border territorial vision 2050

    The Geneva metropolitan area faces the complex task of managing the available space efficiently while coping with continued population growth. The ecological transition requires an innovative approach that takes into account the geographical specificities and accessibility of the regions in order to best manage the impact of population growth.

    In all the regions concerned, measures must be tailored to local circumstances and supported by the entire population in order to fulfil ecological commitments. These measures are adaptable and can be transferred from one region to another as part of an ongoing dialogue.

    In this context, the cantons of Geneva and Vaud, in collaboration with the French Geneva Metropolitan Cluster, have taken the initiative to launch an ecological transition process under the name “Cross-border Territorial Vision 2050”. The aim of this comprehensive exploratory approach is to redefine spatial planning and adapt it to environmental challenges.

    Spatial planning plays a central role in the development of the region in order to meet the needs of the 400,000 additional people expected by 2050. This is a challenge, especially given the limited space in Geneva and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    Strategies are currently being developed in Geneva to manage this increase while maintaining a high-quality, sustainable living environment. The objectives of these strategies include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate change and protecting biodiversity.

    The “Vision Territoriale Transfrontalière 2050” project has already resulted in a participatory roadmap, which was adopted by the State Council at the end of 2021. Based on the climate emergency, the cantonal climate plan and the “Greater Geneva in transition” charter of 2022, this roadmap defines the stages and methods of the preparatory work that will feed into the next spatial planning documents.

    This project- and practice-oriented approach strongly involves local actors, in particular municipalities and associations, and promotes deep local anchoring, which facilitates subsequent implementation. The spatial scenarios developed by transdisciplinary teams enable the gradual development of a shared vision. The relevance of this vision is evaluated locally in discussion groups and, if it is conclusive, can be implemented on a larger scale. This iterative approach leads to a dynamic development of territorial concepts that are continuously refined and adapted to regional needs. In this way, the overall vision becomes a coherent, joint territorial project that strengthens local identities.

    The final version of the cross-border Territorial Vision 2050 should be available in summer 2024. An interim assessment already allows initial conclusions to be drawn and the outline of the vision to be sketched out. Concepts such as the “ecological ceiling” and the “social foundation”, inspired by Kate Raworth’s donut theory, play a central role in the spatial planning strategies. This change of perspective places the living world and its ecosystems at the centre of planning. Other aspects, such as the densification and reorganisation of urban spaces, promote short distances and efficient use of resources, which ultimately reduces the need for mobility and contributes to sustainable urban development.

    This comprehensive, region-specific approach ensures that Greater Geneva plays a leading role in sustainable spatial planning, not only as part of Switzerland, but also in a wider European context. The cross-border Vision 2050 thus makes a decisive contribution to the ongoing adaptation and improvement of Swiss spatial planning.