Vier Thesen zur effektiven Umsetzung der Innenentwicklung in der Schweiz

Abstract

Abstract: Densification is considered a desirable planning solution to prevent urban sprawl and reduce land consumption. The implementation of this goal is acknowledged to come with a range of benefits such as biodiversity preservation, improved energy efficiency, and optimising infrastructure costs. While the need for densification is largely undisputed in the planning debate, the question remains, however, of how to achieve this policy objective. Planning practice is struggling with the implementation of densification objectives because the process implies that stakeholders must deal with the existing built environment, small-scale ownership structures, mosaic of ways, etc. In this paper, we discuss four theses that help explain these implementation difficulties. We take the Swiss spatial planning policy system as a case study example due to its traditionally high priority of densification implementation in Swiss cantons and municipalities. Our four theses suggest different intervention approaches at the federal, cantonal, and local levels to steer and implement densification goals effectively. As well as a clear definition of what ‘densification’ means (and what not), greater financial and personnel support is regarded as being key for municipal planning administrations to effectively resist increasingly professional and legally powerful landowners. English title: Four theses on the effective implementation of densification goals in Switzerland