Today, it takes an average of 140 days from planning application to building permit – 56 days more than in 2010, according to the Zurich Cantonal Bank.
The scarcity of new homes is forcing up rental prices, says Credit Suisse.
Building permits for rental properties have decreased by 1,500 compared to the previous year, while immigration has increased by one-third over the same period, the bank warned in a recent report.
Economics Minister Guy Parmelin convened a round table of experts on Friday to examine ways to improve the situation.
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Switzerland faces shortage of 51,000 homes, says study
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Switzerland is heading towards its biggest housing shortage in 30 years, according to the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper.
Parmelin acknowledged that the participants have a “big job ahead of us” as a plethora of noise, water and landscape protection rules have slowed construction to a dribble compared to demand.
The initial round table will be followed by a series of smaller meetings to thrash out potential solutions.
The Swiss Association of Cities will also participate in the project to unblock construction. Vice-President Corine Mauch said regulations in Zurich are blocking attempts to build more affordable housing.
However, different parts of Switzerland will need different solutions to meet housing needs, the roundtable meeting heard.
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