Basel: City wants to promote densification
The number of Basel's inhabitants is rising unceasingly, and with it the need for living space. The Department of Construction and Transport has therefore developed amendments to the zoning plan, which will be open to the public from May 30.
Specifically, this is the public plan submission of the second part of the Basel zone plan revision. The focus is on measures to increase density and strengthen internal development with a long-term theoretical potential for housing for up to 5,000 additional inhabitants as well as around 700 new jobs.
According to the Department of Construction and Transport, Basel's population has increased by around 10,000 in the last ten years, and the number of jobs has even risen by around 20,000. In view of the strong economic growth, the need for new living space will remain very high for the foreseeable future. This is all the more the case as there is greater development potential for new jobs than for new housing in the future.
While the first part of the zoning plan revision includes urban fringe developments and the ongoing major site developments - such as the Kleinhüningen-Klybeck port and urban development, Volta Nord or the Felix Platter site - the second part of the zoning plan revision deals with measures for internal development.
Proposals for further densification of Basel
Proposals for new density options include upzonings that allow for greater numbers of stories and some development plan amendments in favor of more density flexibility.
The measures focus on areas outside the already very dense neighborhoods with suitable plot sizes and sufficiently large courtyard or street spaces. According to the Department of Construction and Transport, areas with particularly valuable sites or natural networking functions should not be impaired and the different qualities of the neighborhoods should be preserved.
The proposed measures would create a long-term theoretical potential for about 5,000 additional inhabitants as well as for about 700 jobs. Since these are not large site developments, the Department of Construction and Transportation expects that the aforementioned potentials will be realized only slowly and gradually. The authority assumes that this part of the zoning plan revision could create housing for an estimated 2,000 people and space for around 300 jobs by 2035.
After completion of the public planning process, any suggestions and objections will be dealt with by the planning office in the fall. Around the turn of the year 2017/2018, a council proposal with the revised proposals is to be submitted to the Grand Council.
