Biel hospital centre comes to Brügg

The search for a site for a new building to replace the ageing building in Biel's Beaumont district began back in 2018 and, according to Spitalzentrum Biel AG (SZB AG), among the options that were seriously evaluated, Brüggmoos in Brügg quickly emerged as the favourite, partly because of the site's good access and development opportunities.

According to SZB AG, Brüggmoos is centrally located in the middle of the supply region and offers optimal conditions for the operation of a centre and acute hospital, which will also enable further development in the long term without affecting a residential area.

The municipality of Brügg also sees promising prospects in the project. On the one hand, SZB AG, the third-largest employer in the region, is settling in the municipality. On the other hand, the construction project offers the opportunity to redesign the area along the Nidau-Büren canal and to upgrade it as a local recreation area, according to the statement. According to the feasibility study, the new hospital building is to be embedded in a spacious park with a near-natural riverbank design; an extensive area including a sports park for indoor and outdoor activities is to be created.

The municipality of Brügg, SZB AG and the canton of Berne have confirmed in a declaration of intent that they will pave the way for the timely realisation of the new hospital. However, it is the voters of Brügg who have the final say. They will decide in March 2021 on a planning credit and probably in 2023 on an amendment to the zoning plan. (ah)