Aarau barracks site to become a new city quarter from 2031

March 2024

The extension of the rental agreement for the Aarau military base offers all parties involved planning security for the gradual transformation of the barracks site into a city quarter close to the centre by 2035.

The barracks area in Aarau is facing a major transformation. From 2031, a new urban neighbourhood is to be created and military use will be shifted to a reduced area. To support this process, the canton of Aargau has decided to extend the lease agreement with armasuisse, which expires in 2030. This decision provides all parties involved with the necessary planning security until the army’s relocation is completed in 2035. It is planned to conclude a new contract for civilian use from 2036 and to develop a concept for military use at the same time in order to safeguard the interests of all parties.

The barracks site, which currently belongs mainly to the Canton of Aargau and the federal government, is to be made more accessible to the public in future. The urban development project allows for civilian use from 2031, and the agreement to restrict military use to the northern part of the site means that the civilian development of the site can take place gradually without jeopardising the overall urban development vision.

The planning security created by the extension of the lease agreement enables all partners involved to plan the necessary steps to realise the construction projects from 2031. This chronological sequence should ensure that the landowners can realise the construction projects efficiently from 2031 and that the army can move into its new facilities by the end of 2035.

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