Strong momentum for new projects
Switzerland-wide, project activity in the past six months was 7.5% above the average of the last ten years, with a volume of CHF 19.1 billion. A similarly strong dynamic was last seen in mid-2013. This is according to the current quarterly report "Construction Index Switzerland" from Credit Suisse Economic Research.
An above-average number of new projects are planned in particular along the southern foothills of the Jura, in the canton of Fribourg, in Basel, in parts of central Switzerland, in Aargau and in the Winterthur area, according to Credit Suisse Economic Research. Project activity is below average in a total of 53 of the 110 economic regions, i.e. in just under half of them. The Alpine region, which is still affected by the law on second homes, continues to be in first place. These are joined by the regions along Lake Zurich and Lake Constance and the conurbations of Geneva and Berne.
In the meantime, the trend toward rental apartments is continuing in Swiss residential construction. According to Credit Suisse, the latter are likely to account for more than 50% of the net addition of apartments in 2016. Project activity for office space is now slightly on the rise again after a significant decline in 2012 and 2013 and - measured against the oversupply that exists in Geneva and Zurich in particular - is still too high in many places, write the market experts at Credit Suisse Economic Research. (mr)
