immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Metropolitanraum

  • Zurich Metropolitan Area Cooperation Program 2025-2028

    Zurich Metropolitan Area Cooperation Program 2025-2028

    The cooperation programs of the Zurich Metropolitan Area Association serve the targeted development of projects with regional added value. Three programs have been successfully implemented since the association was founded in 2009. The focus is on growth, digitalization and demographic change. The current fourth call for proposals runs under the leitmotifs “Positive climate for innovation” and “Intelligent use of scarce resources” and thus picks up on the new Vision 2040/50 and the 2027 utilization strategy.

    The program is open to projects that focus on one of these topics or projects that combine both aspects. The selective, two-stage procedure ensures that the concepts submitted are practical, scalable and can be implemented in partnership with the member cantons, cities and municipalities. The submission threshold is deliberately kept low. In stage 1, a brief outline of the idea and organization is sufficient; in stage 2, the project is developed further and in more detail.

    Advantages and special features
    The program creates an innovative forum for supra-regional exchange between science, politics, business and society. The professional networking promotes sustainable solutions and strengthens the competitiveness of the metropolitan area as a leading location for research and development. Cantons, cities and municipalities benefit even if individual projects do not affect everyone equally. Diversity and innovative approaches remain the benchmark for the structural and functional area.

    Practical implementation and strategic impact
    With each program, the Zurich Metropolitan Conference provides new impetus for change in work, mobility and the use of resources. The current focus supports projects that contribute to greater innovative strength, digital transformation and sustainable development. Regional and cross-sector solutions are intended to further strengthen the Zurich metropolitan area as an attractive place to live and do business.

  • A new vision for the Zurich metropolitan area

    A new vision for the Zurich metropolitan area

    The Metro-ROK 2050 initiative emphasises the need to use settlement areas sensibly and sustainably in order to improve the quality of life and maintain the ecological balance. By focussing on four central areas of action – urban landscape, transitional landscape, cultural landscape and natural landscape – the concept aims to promote balanced development. The protection of green spaces and high-quality internal development play a particularly important role. Environmentally friendly urban planning is to be realised by strictly limiting the expansion of settlements until 2040 and promoting transformation projects in existing buildings that take the circular economy principle into account.

    Innovative technologies and energy efficiency
    Another important aspect of the Metro-ROK 2050 is the integration of advanced technologies and ecological construction methods in order to improve the carbon footprint of the metropolitan area. The concept emphasises the importance of renewable energies and increasing energy efficiency in buildings in order to counteract the challenges of climate change. The avoidance of further soil sealing and the use of green spaces to combat heat in urban centres are also priority measures.

    Sustainable mobility as a key component
    The spatial planning concept also places a strong focus on promoting public transport and sustainable mobility solutions. The goal of increasing the share of public transport by 2050 and promoting environmentally friendly means of transport is crucial for reducing environmental pollution and increasing the quality of life in the region. Short journeys and low-emission means of transport should help to minimise the ecological footprint.

    Cooperation and future-oriented planning
    The Metro-ROK 2050 initiative reflects the commitment of the participating cantons and sets new standards in regional spatial planning. The updated concept, which was unanimously adopted by the Metropolitan Council on 3 November, serves as a trend-setting framework for the sustainable and future-proof development of the entire Zurich metropolitan area. By taking an integrated view of ecological, economic and social factors, the concept endeavours to shape the metropolitan area as a liveable and sustainable place.

  • A visionary spatial planning concept for the future of the Zurich metropolitan area in 2050

    A visionary spatial planning concept for the future of the Zurich metropolitan area in 2050

    With almost 40% of the Swiss population and the majority of jobs, the Zurich metropolitan area is home to a significant proportion of national life and economic activity. The updated spatial planning concept Metro-ROK 2050, an update of the first Metro-ROK from 2015, defines ambitious planning objectives for this important economic and living space. It aims to promote sustainable development that fulfils both the needs of the population and the protection of the environment.

    The concept divides the area into four action areas: urban landscapes with urban centres, transitional landscapes with regional centres, cultural landscapes and natural landscapes. This categorisation makes it possible to develop targeted measures that guarantee a high quality of life and at the same time make the area ecologically sustainable.

    A core concern of the Metro-ROK 2050 is the protection of green spaces and the promotion of high-quality inner-city development. No expansion of the settlement area is planned until 2040 in order to stop urban sprawl and make better use of existing areas. The building culture should be based on the circular economy principle, take grey energy into account and protect biodiversity.

    The concept also places a strong focus on the sustainable use of resources and the promotion of energy efficiency. Innovative technologies and ecological construction projects should help to improve the carbon footprint and make the metropolitan area more resilient to climate change. Renewable energies and the reduction of soil sealing are just as much a focus as the promotion of public transport and sustainable mobility solutions. The aim is to significantly increase the proportion of environmentally friendly means of transport by 2050.

    The Zurich Metropolitan Area 2050 spatial planning concept represents a decisive step towards sustainable and future-proof development. With the positive acceptance of the recommendations for action by the Metropolitan Council on 3 November, a further milestone has been reached. The concept reflects the commitment of the participating cantons to work together to ensure a liveable and ecologically sustainable Zurich metropolitan area.

  • Study on the role of spatial planning in rising housing costs

    Study on the role of spatial planning in rising housing costs

    The study “Causes of rising housing costs in Switzerland with a focus on spatial planning” makes it clear that spatial planning plays a moderating role in the real estate market: it has an impact on construction activity and thus influences housing costs. The increase in demand for housing, on the other hand, is a driving factor in rising housing costs. Among other things, the downsizing of households, population growth and rising individual housing consumption play a role here.

    Spatial planning can have an influence here. It limits the availability of building land and zoning capacities. In this way, it controls how flexibly the supply of housing can adapt to changing demand. If spatial planning is too strict, the supply can react less flexibly to the strong increase in demand. This can lead to higher housing costs in the long run.

    Internal development as a solution

    However, one of the tasks of spatial planning is to limit urban sprawl and protect the landscape. The study identifies inner development as an instrument that allows both the protection of the landscape and an increase in the supply of housing. The study also shows that rezonings have a price-dampening effect in areas where the utilisation of building zones is already high. Upzoning is defined as the expansion of possible uses within a building zone. This is therefore an effective means and, if used in a targeted manner, can have an optimal effect. The study results also suggest a connection between high housing costs and high planning and process costs. Lengthy approval and objection procedures also contribute to increased costs.

    Conference on housing and spatial development

    As part of the Swiss Housing Days 2023, which will take place from 3 to 7 November 2023 in Biel, a panel of experts will discuss on 6 November how internal development can be shaped so that more affordable housing is created in the process. More details and registration at www.bwo.admin.ch.