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

Housing remains in short supply, but lengthy procedures, new regulations, and political uncertainty are hampering development. This is putting increasing pressure on valuations, particularly for new construction and replacement projects, because delays and safety margins directly reduce the

After years of planning and multiple delays, things are finally taking shape. Construction of the Rüüssegg neighborhood—one of the largest residential development projects in northern Lucerne—will begin in the fall of 2026 at Seetalplatz in Emmen. By the end of 2029, 344 apartments and

In Biel, two municipal housing initiatives have been submitted with approximately 2,600 signatures. They call for a significant increase in the number of nonprofit and municipal housing units by 2055, as well as mandatory quotas for affordable housing on privately owned

A building permit has been granted for the new administration and security center in Kaltbach. The 139-million-franc project is thus moving closer to the start of construction in the fall of 2026, even though the decision is not yet

Asking prices for residential real estate continue to rise in Switzerland, but the picture is becoming more uneven. In June 2026, condominium prices nationwide rose by 4.5 percent compared with the previous year. The Zurich region saw particularly strong growth, while single-family homes are

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

Zurich plans to decommission the gas distribution network between Hauptbahnhof and Bürkliplatz between 2033 and 2035, depending on the situation. This increases the pressure on approximately 500 buildings to switch their heating and cooking systems to the CoolCity lake water network or other

On the Josef site in Zurich-West, the city is sticking to its plan for 140 to 170 new affordable housing units following an additional round of planning. Together with 135 senior housing units, this would total up to 305 units—significantly fewer than what politicians and planners had called

In major German cities, asking rents have been rising significantly faster than real wages since 2023. At the same time, housing construction fell to 206,600 completions in 2025. This is increasing the pressure on project developers, investors, and cities to provide affordable

In June 2026, asking prices for condominiums in Switzerland will rise by 0.7 percent, while prices for single-family homes will remain virtually flat, up 0.1 percent. This shift is particularly noticeable in Zurich and Central

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

In St. Gallen’s Lerchenfeld district, the city is establishing the framework for an increase in gross floor area from 65,000 to approximately 185,000 square meters. In certain areas, buildings up to 85 meters tall would be possible, supported by job creation, new green spaces, and the momentum

The Canton of Zurich expects its population to reach approximately 1.9 million by 2055. However, new zoning designations are not a priority. The main bottlenecks increasingly lie in mobilizing existing reserves, in administrative procedures, and in resistance to

Robert Habeck will join Urban Partners effective August 1, 2026. For the Danish urban development investor, this is more than just a personnel change: The company is expanding its presence in Germany and forging closer links between affordable housing, brownfield development, and institutional

In the future, a building will be considered a historic monument only if it meets at least two of four strict criteria. On July 2, 2026, the Zurich Cantonal Council approved a revision of the Planning and Building Act for submission to the Cantonal Assembly, which will significantly simplify

In Sugiez, the Canton of Fribourg has begun construction of the new central prison. The 70.8 million Swiss franc project brings together pretrial detention, open-prison facilities, and ancillary infrastructure at a single location, marking a new chapter in the prison system both in terms of

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

Condominium prices rose again by 1.0 percent in the second quarter of 2026, while single-family home prices remained flat—albeit at a high level. The barrier to entry remains high for buyers, as low mortgage rates and a tight supply continue to prop up the

The Zurich Cantonal Government is making sweeping changes to a delicate system. In the future, it will be easier to renovate protected buildings; conservatives are celebrating, while the historic preservation society is sounding the alarm. A new tension is emerging between historic heritage and

Same apartment, same square meters, completely different price. A housing cooperative in Lucerne is turning the traditional rental system on its head and rewarding large households instead of those with small budgets. The idea sounds simple, but it strikes a chord that’s resonating throughout the

A crack in a steel component usually means either a costly replacement or continuing to use it at the risk of danger. Empa researchers are now pointing to a third option. With metallic 3D printing, damaged steel components can be repaired in a targeted manner without having to replace them

One of Switzerland’s most renowned urban planners is turning her attention to her own hometown. Sibylle Wälty of ETH Zurich accuses Baden of being far too cautious in its construction efforts, even though the city could actually accommodate twice as many people. Her conclusion is clear: the new

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

By approving 1.36 million Swiss francs for Gersagstrasse, Emmen is directly linking transport infrastructure improvements with site development. The short section near Gersag railway station remains a bottleneck, yet it is also essential for providing access to the planned ‘Sonne’

Infracore is not using its IPO primarily to raise its profile, but rather to fund acquisitions. The property owner, which specialises in hospital and healthcare properties, aims to raise around 200 million Swiss francs gross on the SIX and use the proceeds to finance a pipeline of nine potential

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

A new map tool from Barnes Suisse reveals the price differences in the housing market in French-speaking Switzerland. It highlights, in particular, how significantly the resale, new-build and luxury sectors diverge depending on the

In Rapperswil-Jona, the redevelopment of the vacant centre on Untere Bahnhofstrasse is set to deliver not only 77 flats and new retail space. The project will also alter the street layout, make a tricky bend safer and promote low-car living in its letting

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