Basel: Canton sees residential development on a good course
The Basel City Council is convinced that the 2012 housing development strategy and the 2014 Housing Promotion Act are having an impact. The first cantonal controlling report on housing development 2012-2017 is now available.
The controlling report is intended to show the extent to which the objectives of the strategy have been achieved and the 41 measures contained therein have been implemented. The government council concludes that the developments in non-profit housing construction are encouraging, but that there is still a need for action regarding the vacancy rate and affordable housing.
One pillar of the strategy is to improve the framework conditions for private investment. In fact, housing growth has increased in recent years, the government council reports. However, the target of 4,400 additional apartments within ten years will probably be just missed. The reason is that some projects have failed - at least for the time being - in referendums or due to resistance from the population. In addition, the great potential for additional living space through densification is only being exploited slowly.
The canton had also granted additional land under building rights, thereby supporting cooperative housing construction in particular. Last year, according to the government council, 166 new cooperative apartments were completed on building lease plots owned by the canton (Kohlistieg in Riehen and Belforterstrasse near Bachgraben), and another 94 apartments are about to be occupied on the Schorenareal. In the coming years, around 1,200 cooperative apartments will reportedly be built on land owned by the canton.
In addition, the supply of emergency apartments, which are let on a temporary basis to families and now also occasionally to couples and individuals, has been expanded from around 100 to 150 units. Further low-cost apartments, which are rented for an indefinite period, are being created with the new Volta Ost construction project near Voltaplatz.
Overall, the residential development strategy is on the right track, according to the government council. Every year, more than 30,000 people move within the canton, which speaks for the attractiveness of the city. There is still a need for action, especially for people who are disadvantaged in the housing market, and it is also important that additional housing of various types is created in the canton with the continuing economic growth and the associated increase in jobs.
