A visionary spatial planning concept for the future of the Zurich metropolitan area in 2050
In November 2023, planners from the cantons of Aargau, Lucerne, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, St. Gallen, Thurgau, Zug, and Zurich presented the updated Spatial Planning Concept for the Zurich Metropolitan Area 2050 (Metro-ROK 2050). The goal is to address the challenges of urban sprawl, population growth, and maintaining a livable environment through effective and optimized use of available resources.
With almost 40% of the Swiss population and the majority of jobs, the Zurich metropolitan area is home to a significant proportion of national life and economic activity. The updated spatial planning concept Metro-ROK 2050, an update of the first Metro-ROK from 2015, defines ambitious planning objectives for this important economic and living space. It aims to promote sustainable development that fulfils both the needs of the population and the protection of the environment.
The concept divides the area into four action areas: urban landscapes with urban centres, transitional landscapes with regional centres, cultural landscapes and natural landscapes. This categorisation makes it possible to develop targeted measures that guarantee a high quality of life and at the same time make the area ecologically sustainable.
A core concern of the Metro-ROK 2050 is the protection of green spaces and the promotion of high-quality inner-city development. No expansion of the settlement area is planned until 2040 in order to stop urban sprawl and make better use of existing areas. The building culture should be based on the circular economy principle, take grey energy into account and protect biodiversity.
The concept also places a strong focus on the sustainable use of resources and the promotion of energy efficiency. Innovative technologies and ecological construction projects should help to improve the carbon footprint and make the metropolitan area more resilient to climate change. Renewable energies and the reduction of soil sealing are just as much a focus as the promotion of public transport and sustainable mobility solutions. The aim is to significantly increase the proportion of environmentally friendly means of transport by 2050.
The Zurich Metropolitan Area 2050 spatial planning concept represents a decisive step towards sustainable and future-proof development. With the positive acceptance of the recommendations for action by the Metropolitan Council on 3 November, a further milestone has been reached. The concept reflects the commitment of the participating cantons to work together to ensure a liveable and ecologically sustainable Zurich metropolitan area.