Grenchen is set to gain 28 flats and a new bank branch

Construction of a mixed-use residential and commercial building is set to begin in early August on the site of the former EPA car park in Grenchen. The plans include a new bank branch on the ground floor, 28 rental flats on the upper floors, and occupancy is expected around two years after construction begins.

The new building marks the next step in a relocation process that has been in the pipeline since 2023. At that time, the bank secured an option to purchase the plot of land between Bettlachstrasse and Solothurnstrasse, after its previous location on Kirchstrasse no longer fully met the requirements for proximity to the town centre, security and space, according to the annual report.

According to project details, preparatory work is due to begin on 3 August 2026, with construction itself scheduled to start on 10 August. The official ground-breaking ceremony is set for 17 August. An approved design plan is in place for the development, and, according to the 2025 half-year results, the planning application had already been submitted.

Mixed-use development in a central location
The plan is to build a mixed-use residential and commercial building on the site of the former EPA car park in Grenchen town centre. The ground floor is to house the new office, which will be accessible from both sides of the street. A total of 28 rental flats are planned for the four upper floors. The 2024 Annual Report states that the current site is due to be relocated to Grenchen in 2027 or 2028.

Two buildings with an inner courtyard
The project envisages two buildings along Solothurnstrasse and Bettlachstrasse. A landscaped, terraced inner courtyard is planned between them. The development is to be heated using a ground-source heat pump. In addition, there will be photovoltaic systems on the roof and on the façades. For this property development in a central location, this indicates that even smaller inner-city replacement buildings are increasingly being realised with a combined energy and usage concept.

Construction to continue until 2028
The total investment is estimated at around 20 million Swiss francs. The first phase of construction will involve excavation, underpinning of the neighbouring buildings and the construction of two basement levels, before the project becomes visible above ground from the second year onwards. According to the project details, no major traffic disruption is expected on Bettlachstrasse and Solothurnstrasse during the construction period, apart from a brief period whilst the sewerage connection is being installed.