In Lucerne, the new municipal right of first refusal for real estate is the subject of a legal dispute. Following the voters’ approval on June 14, 2026, an appeal has been filed with the cantonal court to determine whether the measure is permissible without a cantonal legal basis and whether the

A red-and-white flag, a view of the harbor, direct access to the water. For years, the “Swiss House” at Pier 17 in San Francisco served as Switzerland’s calling card in Silicon Valley. Now it’s over. The federal government had to vacate the site and is leaving behind nearly nine million

A planning tool that sets out more than 100 policy objectives. A referendum committee that speaks of a “political straitjacket.” On November 29, 2026, Winterthur will decide at the polls how much leeway the city’s development should retain over the next 15 years. The referendum against the

Higher tax bills, delayed decisions, political squabbles. With the largest revaluation of its real estate since 1998, the canton of Aargau has stirred up a hornet’s nest. An external expert report now offers a clear assessment of a controversial political initiative. The demand by the FDP and SVP

The canton of Lucerne plans to handle building permit applications entirely digitally and is investing approximately nine million francs over a period of ten years to do so. For building owners, planners, and municipalities, this will not only involve replacing the software but also overhauling the

For the time being, the Luganese region will come away empty-handed in the fifth-generation agglomeration programs. Bern cites an insufficient overall impact and a lack of concrete plans for urban development as the reasons for this. This sends a significant signal regarding location and site

Three municipalities in Nidwalden are at risk of missing the deadline for amending their zoning plans and regulations by January 1, 2027. The cantonal government therefore intends to extend the transition period until early 2030 so that building permit applications can continue to be processed on a

In the heart of Schlieren lies a site whose land belongs to the City of Zurich but is situated within Schlieren’s municipal boundaries. Covering over 324,000 square metres, it was originally acquired for the gasworks, developed in the 1980s and is now one of the most innovative sites in the

The Swiss rental housing market is at a standstill. More and more people are unable to find suitable housing, while others remain in apartments that no longer suit their life circumstances. The “Swiss Alliance for Housing” is therefore calling for a clear change of course—away from subsidies

The USPI Geneva has accompanied its 2025 annual report with a clear call to action for policymakers and the administration. The association highlights 320,000 properties under management, 650 million Swiss francs in construction investment, and increasing pressure on refurbishment, new-build

When a plot of land is sold, it is not always the buyer with whom negotiations have taken place who ultimately decides. In Switzerland, contractual and statutory rights of first refusal can divert the transfer of ownership. For owners, developers and co-owners, this means that even the drafting of

Following the withdrawal of an appeal, St. Moritz can now continue with the construction of the Du Lac residential block, comprising 31 flats for local residents. The case illustrates just how much administrative procedures in tourist destinations under pressure can delay even municipal housing

A cantonal school for around 880 pupils is to be built near Rotkreuz railway station by 2031. The winning design by Gigon Guyer links the 200-million-franc new building with the ongoing development of the town centre and increases the planning pressure on the surrounding

According to the Swiss Deep Tech Report 2026, 63 per cent of Swiss venture capital is channelled into deep tech. For Zurich, Lausanne and Basel, this reinforces their role as centres for research and business and increases the pressure on space, talent and growth

Zurich wants to create affordable housing, but in doing so is driving up prices. How is that possible? It’s quite simple: when the government uses taxpayer money to bid alongside private developers and squeezes out private cooperatives. The NZZ has uncovered this contradiction. It’s

The Canton of Fribourg owns 661 buildings. Many of them are dilapidated, many are energy-inefficient, and without intervention, the situation will deteriorate drastically in just a few years. The Grand Council approved a framework credit of 150 million Swiss francs by a vote of 81 to 4 to address

Switzerland has slipped to third place in the 2026 IMD ranking. The slump in economic performance strikes at the heart of the country’s competitiveness: as growth slows and foreign trade comes under pressure, the demands on investment, land and regulation also

Swiss Prime Site is halting the Maaglive project and withdrawing its appeal before the Federal Supreme Court. On the Maag site in Zurich West, the focus is now shifting to the refurbishment of the halls at a cost of around 60 million Swiss francs, with the possibility of the University of Zurich

With Samuel Schweizer and Eveline Fenner, the Knonauer Amt Economic Development Agency has welcomed two new board members. Their election at the Annual General Meeting on 21 May 2026 strengthens the economic foundations of an organisation that brings together business attraction, energy efficiency

In the canton of Zurich, just over 600 large enterprises account for 42 per cent of value added and 39 per cent of full-time jobs. The new monitoring study thus reveals a high degree of concentration in terms of office space, commercial premises and supplier networks, alongside close links with

Seven ORK cantons, Zurich and Liechtenstein intend to jointly develop, procure and standardise AI for use in public administration. This is increasing the pressure to ensure that digital processes for planning applications, property management and other procedures are compatible across

Balz Halter recognised the Limmat Valley as an area with development potential when others were still hesitant. Entrepreneur Balz Halter discusses rational decisions on where to invest, the capacity for political action, and the question of why the region finally needs an overarching strategy

With more than 140,000 signatures submitted, the rent initiative is now on the political agenda. For property owners, managers, and developers, this brings into focus not only the issue of rent levels, but also questions of oversight, return on investment, and additional regulation of existing

The 109th immoTable Limmattal event drew around 190 real estate and location experts to the StartUp Space in Schlieren on June 18, 2026. The central question of the afternoon was as simple as it was complex: Does the Limmattal have what it takes to become an independent economic region, or will it

How do you earn people’s trust? How do you recognize true motives? And what sets successful entrepreneurs apart from everyone else? On July 9, 2026, someone who knows all about it will provide the answers to these questions: Leo

FRZ (Zurich Airport Region) is launching “New Zurich,” a development strategy for one of Switzerland’s most dynamic economic and living environments. The approach is ambitious: The airport region should no longer be viewed merely as a metropolitan area, a source of jobs, or an extension of

The Swiss Real Estate Forum (SREF) took place for the first time in Bern on June 11 and 12, 2026. By moving to BERNEXPO, the industry event brought itself closer to federal politics and set an example for dialogue between the real estate industry, politics, academia, and

With a refined strategy, concrete location development projects, and a new brand identity, Limmatstadt AG is positioning itself as a driving force in a strong region. The Limmat Valley is leveraging its dynamic location between Zurich and Baden to further raise its profile as an innovative business

An economic area has grown up between Zurich and Baden that was long considered a transit zone. Today, the Limmat Valley has around 110,000 inhabitants and around 70,000 jobs. It is densifying, rebuilding and reorganizing its traffic. Anyone who still describes the Limmat Valley today as a

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