Wittenbach is making significant progress in the rental housing sector

In Wittenbach, the Widenbach project and the Bächipark site are set to create almost 130 new rental flats. The largest part of this comprises 62 units, which are due to be ready for occupation by autumn 2028 and could provide significant relief for the town’s tight housing market.

Construction work in Widenbach has been underway since the third quarter of 2026. The plans include four blocks of flats with a total of 62 rental flats. The project stems from a design competition won by Itten Brechbühl in 2022. According to the project details, completion is scheduled for autumn 2028.

At the same time, the Bächipark development is also continuing to expand. The project page lists 26 rental flats on Leestrasse, due to be ready for occupation by the end of 2026. Architectural plans for the neighbouring Bächi site also indicate further residential developments. This means that, around Wittenbach’s well-connected residential areas, a development is taking shape that goes well beyond a single project.

62 flats with a clear open-space strategy
Widenbach is the flagship project for the local rental housing market. The development comprises flats ranging from 2.5 to 5.5 rooms. The development adheres to the Minergie standard, features low-traffic access and a central underground car park. Plans include 62 car parking spaces, eight motorbike spaces and 233 bicycle parking spaces. The location between Romanshornerstrasse, Erlachstrasse and Grünauweg combines new-build developments with immediate green space.

For professional market participants, the scale of the project is particularly significant. According to industry reports, the Aurora Investment Foundation is investing around 36 million Swiss francs in the project in Wittenbach. The investment foundation is financed by regional pension funds. This also makes the development an example of how institutional capital is creating additional rental accommodation in medium-sized municipalities in Eastern Switzerland.

Bächipark is already partially occupied
The second focus is on Bächipark. There, 26 flats are already on the market, whilst a further 39 rental flats in the surrounding area are set to be ready for occupancy in summer 2028. Even before completion, the location is showing early signs of popularity. This points to robust demand for well-connected housing in a green setting near St. Gallen.

Wittenbach itself has a population of just over 10,000. In its population projections up to 2040, the canton of St. Gallen anticipates further growth in the municipalities. For Wittenbach, this increases the pressure not only to plan new flats, but also to deliver them without delays caused by administrative bottlenecks. This is precisely where the real news lies. Several projects are progressing simultaneously and will deliver an unusually large influx of rental flats by the end of 2028 for a municipality of this size.