NIMBYs the main barrier to new construction in Switzerland, study finds

With rental properties in Switzerland remaining extremely hard to come by, many may be wondering why new homes aren’t being built faster. Now, a new study from the Federal Housing Office (BWO) has revealed that locals and NIMBYs are the biggest barriers to new developments.

Objections the main hamper for newbuilds in Switzerland

In the all-encompassing report, the government noted that “when new housing projects are not built or are delayed in Switzerland, objections and appeals against them are primarily responsible”. The majority of these complaints are submitted by locals and neighbourhood groups, followed by environmental organisations.

63 percent of housing developers surveyed by the BWO reported that they have “almost always” been halted or delayed by objections and complaints from locals. In addition, “overburdening planning processes” are also putting many developers off building large new developments.

Among companies that have been held up by objections, a majority said that it adversely affected the completion date and cost of their projects. However, 30 percent did report that objections can benefit the architectural design of buildings.

Housing construction in Switzerland remains sluggish

Though a majority of complaints were quashed by cantonal courts, the BWO fears that NIMBYs (not in my backyarders) are contributing to the sluggish rate of new homes being built in Switzerland. Though construction rates are set to increase in 2025, it has taken seven years for the number of new builds to rise.

The BWO’s report highlights an ongoing battle between priorities. While most agree that more homes should be built in Switzerland, very few want to face the inconvenience and impact of nearby construction. In addition, some groups may have legitimate environmental concerns about a project. 

BWO calls for costs to be imposed on NIMBY objections

For the government, they argue that the main reason objections are so widespread is that there is very little financial penalty for locals who launch spurious claims. The Federal Supreme Court in Lausanne has ruled that objectors may not face any legal costs, nearly no property developer has taken an objector to court, and a majority of developments end up adapting their project following a complaint.

In all, the BWO called on the government and parliament to restrict those who can complain about new housing, accelerate the claims and appeals process and introduce a cost to objecting. They added that “objection-friendly” rulings by the Supreme Court should also be corrected via new legislation.