Bern: Administrative court finds housing initiative admissible
The Administrative Court has rejected the appeal against the initiative "For affordable housing". The so-called housing initiative was thus declared admissible.
The housing initiative stipulates that in newly created residential zones or in residential zones that are upgraded with an increase in use, at least one-third of the living space should in future be built at low cost or by non-profit sponsors. In addition, owners should in principle be able to realize 20 percent more floor space if they are non-profit or build affordable housing.
The initiative was approved by Bernese voters in May 2014 with 72 percent in favor, but it has still not come into force due to a pending appeal. The housing initiative is being contested by the homeowners' association of Bern and the surrounding area, among others. And even after the decision of the administrative court, the dispute does not end: The complainants can challenge it before the Federal Supreme Court within a period of 30 days.
Nevertheless, the city of Bern already applies part of the housing initiative. When planning on city-owned land, it reserves at least one third of the living space for non-profit or low-cost housing. It also recommends this to private landowners.
