Basel: Development plan for VoltaNord approved
Basel has big plans for the VoltaNord commercial and industrial site, also known as the Lysbüchel site. Up to 3,000 jobs and housing for 1,300 to 1,900 residents are to be created there.
The 11.6-hectare site between Elsässerstrasse, Schlachthofstrasse and the railroad line is currently only used extensively. The Coop distribution center will move away in the summer of 2017, and building lease and rental agreements on the SBB parcel will also expire. In the view of the Basel government, this offers the opportunity to create space for additional jobs and new living space by densifying the area.
The development plan approved by the Government Council for the attention of the Grand Council allows an increase in the gross floor area (GFA) from around 85,000 today to approximately 206,000 square meters. Of this, at least 40 percent each is reserved for work and residential uses. An elementary school is to be realized in the southern part of the site, which is dominated by residential use.
According to the government council, 13 objections to the plans were received from tradespeople during the public planning process, as well as one suggestion each from the Basel-Stadt trade association and the Basel Chamber of Commerce. Five objections were withdrawn after discussions with the SBB and the canton. Seven objections from tenants and building lease holders on the SBB parcel were not legitimate, as their contracts expired before the planning measures were implemented.
Objections demand preservation of the industrial area
Basically, the opponents demand the preservation of the industrial and commercial zone. They argue that otherwise the framework conditions for industrial and commercial uses would deteriorate. The government council, however, points out that the VoltaNord planning envisages a massive increase in the number of jobs from 500 today to around 2,000 to 3,000 in the future.
The government council is also opposed to the comprehensive densification of the site with exclusively commercial and industrial uses demanded by the opponents. It is to be feared that such a large supply would far exceed the demand. Compared to the 25,000 sq.m. of GFA currently available for industry and commerce (on SBB land), the development plan envisages around 65,000 sq.m. of GFA as a realistic proportion for such uses. These are to be placed, among others, in a new commercial building in the north of the site. Low-cost commercial space is also envisaged in the existing property at Elsässerstrasse 215 (construction site 3) on the parcel owned by the residents' municipality. The planned Werkarena commercial building (25,000 sqm GFA) on a plot of land owned by the local authority on Neudorfstrasse would also provide a further offer for commercial enterprises in the canton.
The development plan will be discussed in the next step in the Grand Council after the summer vacations.
