Biel/Nidau: Agglolac high-rise is controversial
As can be seen from the participation report on Mobimo's Agglolac residential project in Biel and Nidau, the planned 70-meter-high high-rise building of the development is particularly controversial. Overall, however, the population is behind the project, which is to create living space for 1,500 people.
Between Lake Biel Bay and Nidau Castle, the cities of Nidau and Biel, as landowners, intend to create a new quarter with approx. 120,000 sqm of gross floor area on an area of 163,000 sqm. Project development, financing and realization of the project were entrusted to Mobimo AG. Mobimo estimates the investment volume at CHF 400 to 500 million.
In the fall of 2015, a consultation was conducted, and now the report is available. According to the report, 41 percent of the 327 people and organizations who took part in the consultation are opposed to the high-rise building next to Nidau's Barkenhafen harbor. 35 percent were in favor of the building. Many of those who took part in the survey felt that the planned buildings were too tall overall. The central aspects of the planning, however, met with a positive response from a clear majority, for example the urban harbor promenade, the open space belt with lakeside path, the dense development and the largely car-free design of the neighborhood.
The participation concerned the change of the building-legal basic order of Nidau. Only with such a change can the residential project be realized. Despite the broad rejection of the high-rise building, Nidau and Biel intend to stick to the Agglolac planning. The public announcement is to take place this fall. After a possible further revision, the voters of Nidau will finally decide on the revised building code at the end of 2017 or 2018. At the same time, Nidau and Biel will vote on the sale of the land to the investor. (ah)
