This is how Switzerland wants to grow

The Swiss population is growing. This means the shortage of housing, especially in urban centres, is becoming an increasingly important issue. On behalf of the Migros Pioneer Fund, the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI) conducted a representative survey of the Swiss population to find out their views on the future of housing in Switzerland. While three out of four people are satisfied with their current home, the majority of respondents recognise that we need to make changes to the way in which we live together in future.

The GDI's study clearly reveals just how significantly Swiss people's views differ over solutions for achieving greater living space in Switzerland.

• Around 80% deem densifitcation as a suitable, or at least partially suitable, way of tackling the housing shortage.
• Urban residents are much more accepting of changes to development planning in their local community than people living in rural areas.
• Compact urban planning must be offset by clear improvements to the local environment: better public transport services, enhanced natural spaces and sustainable construction methods help to gain acceptance of densification.
• Any encroachment on personal space is never popular: only around 15% of respondents would be willing to reduce their living space for communal use.

The results reveal which factors influence satisfaction with housing at individual level, how low willingness to move is and whether people are more likely to relocate to urban or rural areas. The study's authors also outline who is more willing to embrace change and what impact political attitudes and trust have on such willingness. The study clearly indicates which measures aimed at increasing living space are more likely to be accepted by the Swiss population as well as the best way of implementing them.

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