Salzburg survey finds broad support for taller housing

Around three quarters of respondents in Salzburg support residential buildings of up to 10 storeys, according to an online survey presented by Deputy Mayor Kay-Michael Dankl of the KPÖ on Thursday. The findings are included in the city’s new Housing Vision 2040, reported by ORF.

Housing in Salzburg is expected to become more expensive as demand continues to outpace supply. The city’s housing policy framework brings together proposals developed through discussions with social organisations and property developers, as well as the online survey.

Dankl said some locations could accommodate buildings of eight storeys or more as part of urban densification. “You can build low and ugly, but you can also build high, beautiful and well,” he said. He added that the city’s green-space protection rules made it necessary to build upwards, a view he said was shared by a broad majority of respondents.

Support for such projects in practice is likely to depend on the location, the specific design and the involvement of local residents. Salzburg has previously seen angry protests against high-rise developments.

The Housing Vision 2040 also proposes a housing construction drive and measures to address the misuse of housing, including short-term rentals through platforms such as Airbnb and so-called micro-hotels. The city is also considering action on vacant homes and speculative use of residential property.

Another focus is the more efficient use of existing buildings, land and plots. Dankl said housing policy should address existing properties as well as new construction. Installing photovoltaic systems on existing buildings, for example, could reduce tenants’ operating costs, he said.

The framework also addresses the growing number of smaller households. More and more homes are occupied by just one or two people. It identifies older people living alone in large, relatively inexpensive flats they have occupied for many years as one factor behind the trend.