No limitation of building land in Switzerland

more and more green space will be built - this is a Problem in Switzerland even more than in Germany. A people's initiative wanted to stop. However, the Swiss decided otherwise.

By Dietrich Karl Mäurer, ARD-Studio in Zurich

In Switzerland, the Initiative has failed to prevent further urban sprawl. In the case of a referendum, a clear majority voted against the proposal of the young Greens, the area of the building zones on the present state of freeze. Almost two-thirds of those Voting did not want to leave in the Constitution States that for every newly-designated construction area, a building which is provided a piece of Land elsewhere to agricultural land.

The idea is to protect nature and the landscape, was initially met with the Swiss in sympathy. But in the end, the arguments of the opponents were convincing. The parties of the right, to the middle class, as well as the business languages of a rigid rule. You would endanger the economic development and the prices for building land in the amount driven. In addition, you have funds with a revised spatial planning law is sufficient to counter the Landfraß.

Switzerland is booming. Like here in Zurich is being built in many Parts of the country a lot. However, the area is suitable for development, is in a country that is located in the mountains, yet more limited, than in Germany.

at Least as a "big Problem"

In the case of the successful opponents of the Initiative, it was to be known of the result, the citizens have just noticed that you want to stop any Development. The now available building zones are distributed in Switzerland also unequal.

In the case of the failed Initiative, which was supported by the Greens, social Democrats and Environmental groups, spoke of a fight of David against Goliath. The Vice-chief of the young Greens, Lucjan Franzini, said that despite the defeat at the ballot box, you have reached at least that the urban sprawl has been recognized as a "big Problem".

advertising posters of the young Greens for the people's initiative. To celebrate the initiators do not have now.

Only 30 percent of the land area.

The Initiative had always pointed out that in Switzerland, per day, a surface area of eight football fields, will built. Every second, get out a square meter of green area.

In the already small Switzerland are only 30 percent of the land area usable for agriculture or residential use, had argued the initiators of the referendum. With careful management of the soil is necessary. To be built should have reinforced areas within the existing settlement. If you build, for example, higher building that could ultimately land more green.