Bern: STEK 2016 defines urban development
The city of Bern wants to further expand and consolidate its position as an attractive, green city in which to live and work. This emerges from the STEK 2016, which sets out the city's development for the next 15 years.
The Bern 2016 urban development concept - "STEK 2016" for short - sets out how the city of Bern is to develop spatially over the next 15 years or so. Because Bern wants 17,000 more inhabitants and 15,000 additional jobs. The "STEK 2016" has already come into force and serves as a new management tool for urban development. The municipal council has already decided on the first measures.
The STEK 2016 describes three central fields of action:
- Bern is growing dynamically: Bern wants to grow primarily through inward densification. In addition, the planning of an appropriate urban expansion is to be examined together with the neighboring municipalities.
- Bern is green and connected: The open space potential is to be used more intensively and green spaces are to be preserved and further developed. Streets that characterize urban space are to be further developed and given a high-quality design. The aim is to achieve mobility that is compatible with the city and climate-neutral in the long term. Traffic is to be redirected in favor of public transport as well as pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
- Bern lives in quarters: The "STEK 2016" aims to individually strengthen the quality and identity of the neighborhood and to ensure a functioning neighborhood supply. Squares and neighborhood centers are to be selectively upgraded. The connections in the quarters and among each other will be further improved. In addition, the "STEK 2016" wants to further shorten the accessibility of the most important supply facilities within the quarters.
Housing and area strategy planned
In the STEK, strategically important "Chantiers" (building sites) were defined, which are characterized by special upgrading potentials. These include the barracks area and the Tiefenau-Felsenau area. Their development is prioritized. In addition, a housing and site strategy is being developed, taking into account non-profit and low-cost housing.
In order to promote building densification, the revision of building and zoning regulations is to be examined. Furthermore, densification deficits in the urban area are to be identified and strategies for their reduction are to be developed.
High priority is also given to pedestrians, bicycles and public transport. Individual traffic will be slowed down and channeled even more. Among other things, a master plan for bicycle infrastructure is being developed and a regional streetcar and bus concept is being created.
