
Limmat Revitalization Project Stumbles Over Contaminated Sites
The plans for the “Lebendige Limmat” will be available for public review through September 28, 2026. This major Zurich project aims to combine flood protection, biodiversity, and local recreation along a 3.2-kilometer stretch; however, at approximately 95 million Swiss francs, it will be

Bern Requires Residential Buildings to Have Charging Stations
The federal government is taking direct action regarding apartment buildings. A proposal released on June 19, 2026, aims to require landlords and condominium owners to install the basic infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations when necessary. This is precisely what is sparking massive

Switzerland’s biggest bottleneck is fighting its way out
Every day, 120,000 vehicles queue through one of Switzerland’s busiest tunnels. For decades, the Gubrist Tunnel near Zurich was a symbol of the failure of transport planning. Now, with the completion of a multi-billion construction project in sight, the picture is changing. What once seemed

Building more flats does little to reduce commuting
Zurich and Basel are grappling with the imbalance between jobs and housing. Yet this much-cited indicator, of all things, is losing its significance. A recent analysis shows that longer commutes are only weakly correlated with the ratio of workers to

Herisau is revamping the Casinopark
A controversial redevelopment plan is currently under consideration in the centre of Herisau. The proposal for Casinopark would see the construction of flats, a public underground car park with 56 spaces, a private car park with 52 spaces and a new park. However, it is only following a public

The railway that nobody wanted but everyone needs
Too expensive, took too long to build, not enough demand. Three years on, Line 20 between Zurich Altstetten and Killwangen has silenced the critics. For what looked like an expensive experiment at the time is now the backbone of transport in one of Switzerland’s fastest-growing

Frauenfeld’s development plan sparks opposition
In Frauenfeld, the dispute over the new municipal development plan is entering a critical phase. Business associations and a town centre association are rallying against the provisions on traffic, parking and procedures. They fear more restrictions, reduced accessibility and greater interference

Charging regulations are putting pressure on residential buildings
Bern is taking action regarding garages and multi-storey car parks. The Federal Council wants to oblige owners of residential properties to install the basic infrastructure for charging electric cars upon request. This is precisely what has now sparked a dispute over costs, responsibilities and

The Limmattal sets the standard for living in Zurich
Anyone looking for a flat in Zurich soon realises there’s too little supply, prices are too high, and there’s too much frustration. A few kilometres down the Limmat in Spreitenbach, the new Tivoli Garten mega-development is filling up rapidly. 445 flats, a 200-million-franc investment, over 90

Frauenfeld is turning the town centre upside down
Six sections of road in Frauenfeld town centre are to be put out for public consultation. The framework grant of 11.3 million Swiss francs, approved in 2022, remains in place, but the redevelopment will be carried out in phases until at least 2030 and will have a significant impact on transport,

A Parking Space Becomes a Political Issue
An electric car spends most of its time parked. That’s exactly when it should be able to charge—at home or at work. But for many renters and condominium owners, this simple idea hits a wall in the garage. The Federal Council now wants to change that, thereby sparking a conflict that goes far

Baden Regio sets out its next planning strategy
23 local authorities in the Baden region are refining their joint development strategy. A new Regional Development Strategy (RES) is due to be finalised by the end of 2026. For urban development, housing, transport and open spaces, this is more than just a piece of paper, as the association brings

The Rosental Tower in Basel will open later
At the Messeplatz in Basel, the start of construction on the Rosentalturm has been postponed once again. Demolition of the existing exhibition centre car park is now set to begin only after the Autumn Fair and the Baloise Session, whilst the building permit from the Canton of Basel-Stadt is still

Zug is first expanding the infrastructure in Gimenen
A concrete building project has been proposed for the Gimenen municipal site in Zug for the first time. Plans include widening Gimenenstrasse and constructing a new bus turning loop. However, there is still no legal basis under planning law for the affordable housing development that has been under

Bern Approves Renovation at Bärenplatz
The redevelopment of Bärenplatz and Waisenhausplatz in Bern has cleared its next hurdle. The Bern-Mittelland District Office has granted the building permit and rejected an objection. This brings the start of construction closer, with work set to begin no earlier than the fourth quarter of

Winterthur Opposes the 2040 Land-Use Plan
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

Lugano Falls Behind in the Federal Program
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

Lerchenfeld Plans to Build Denser and Taller
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

Emmen secures access to the Sonne site
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’

New replacement development combines housing, commercial use and urban regeneration
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

Stadelhofen is reorganising its traffic
The Zurich Cantonal Council has approved the amendment to the structural plan for the area around Stadelhofen railway station. This brings the reorganisation of traffic in the front part of Seefeld a step closer: Falkenstrasse is to become a priority cycle route, whilst through traffic will be

Zug launches public transport hub with a residential development
Following years of planning, work is now getting underway on an infrastructure project at the An der Aa site in Zug. The new base for the ZVB, the emergency services and the administration will also provide space for around 160 flats from 2031, 40 per cent of which will be affordable

Niederlenz is tightening up its building zones
On 25 June 2026, the municipality of Niederlenz adopted the revised building and land-use regulations. The core principles are clear: more infill development, denser development in suitable locations, and stricter quality standards for the townscape, open spaces and

Housing preferences and the market are drifting apart
According to the 2026 Dream Home Study, 43 per cent of those surveyed would prefer to live in the countryside, but rising prices, a shortage of properties and high barriers to financing are keeping many in urban centres. The gap is particularly wide among young city

Asphalt, Heat, Collapse, and Who Pays the Bill
At the end of June 2026, temperatures in Germany exceeded the 40-degree mark for the first time ever in June. In Möckern-Drewitz, Saxony-Anhalt, the thermometer read 41.5 degrees Celsius, a new all-time record. This is no fluke. It is the result of decades of poorly planned urban

St. Gallen is refining its vision for the future of Lerchenfeld
In the west of St. Gallen, Lerchenfeld is set to become denser, taller and more diverse over the next two decades. The new development strategy links additional residential and commercial space to the future Bruggen-Haggen dual railway station and to new green spaces and

Two Areas, One City, One Vision
A residential town, a business hub, a transportation hub—Dietikon has many faces. In this interview, Mayor Roger Bachmann explains how the Niderfeld and Silbern projects are becoming key initiatives for the entire region and what modern urban development means in the Limmat Valley

Frauenfeld Becomes the Heart of Package Logistics
On June 14, 2026, Swiss Post broke ground in Frauenfeld on a new regional parcel center. The 200-million-franc investment is not a response to an immediate problem; rather, it is a strategic move that will shape the company’s course for the coming decades. This will make Thurgau the hub of Swiss

Charging Regulations Put Residential Buildings Under Pressure to Renovate
The Federal Council wants to grant tenants and condominium owners in residential buildings the right to have the basic infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations installed. For owners and property managers, this would make the expansion of parking facilities, load management, and cost
