Neuenhof relaxes density restrictions for 200 flats

A new neighbourhood comprising around 200 flats could well be built on the outskirts of Neuenhof. Following some opposition, the local council has now approved a higher density of 220 inhabitants per hectare for the Üsseri Gassächer development plan, thereby keeping a project that has been in the pipeline for years on track.

The Üsseri Gassächer development plan is on public display in Neuenhof. A new neighbourhood comprising around 200 flats is to be built on approximately two hectares in the area between Güterstrasse, Chrüzlibergweg, Hafnerweg and Hinterhagweg. The development had almost been derailed politically because the local council initially wanted to reduce the planned density to 160 residents per hectare.

Following objections from the developers, the local authority has now agreed to an upper limit of 220 residents per hectare. This means that the project, which has been in the pipeline for around seven years, remains on track in principle. Around 350,000 Swiss francs have already been invested in the planning. For the owners, a reduction in the number of storeys would have represented a significant departure from the detailed master plan.

More than just housing
The plan is not for a purely residential development. Along Güterstrasse, around 1,500 square metres of commercial and studio space are planned on the ground floor. Proposed uses include catering, retail and neighbourhood services. On Hinterhagweg, a nursery, a neighbourhood centre and, above these, housing for the elderly are planned. A neighbourhood square with green spaces, rows of trees, recreational areas and play areas is intended to provide the site with a public hub.

The project also prioritises compact infrastructure and technical reserves. Two underground car parks with a total of 267 underground parking spaces are planned. Of these, 30 spaces are reserved for staff of the commercial and catering premises. A further 8 to 15 parking spaces are provided for customers and visitors, with an additional 11 customer parking spaces along Güterstrasse. The car park is to be constructed in such a way that charging points for electric vehicles can be retrofitted at a reasonable cost at a later date.

Densification on the village outskirts remains a sensitive issue
The question of just how close to the edge of the settlement construction should take place remained particularly politically contentious. It is precisely here that the conflicting objectives of many local authorities become apparent. On the one hand, the canton and spatial planning authorities require economical land use and promote high-density development. On the other hand, the municipality wishes to manage the transition to the village outskirts more cautiously. For Neuenhof, the decision is nevertheless significant because the site can be developed in phases, with existing uses thus being transferred into a new neighbourhood in the long term.

A fixed start date for construction has not yet been announced. The public consultation process for the design plan is currently underway. On the project page of the architectural firm responsible for the planning, ‘Üsseri Gassächer’ in Neuenhof is still listed as an ongoing project.