Retail planning policy in Switzerland

The relationship of regional planning and urban development to the retail industry is a very pragmatic one: regional planning has no overall strategie goals relating to the supply of goods, and no corresponding plans; nor has the retail trade addressed the question of regional planning in any systematic way. This applies in particular at the federal and canton levels. Exceptions such as the supply plan for the canton of Thurgau, or the 'Shopping Centres in Oberengadin ' guide-lines merely prove the rule. Surprisingly, there is not even at the federal level (nor in most cantons), any kind of central place scheme that would be binding at least for public services. Here too, politically motivated day-to-day pragmatism takes precedence over basic planning considerations. Every day, both groups take a host of decisions that have 'retail ' or space effects, without these decisions being integrated into any widerranging schemes- let alone being co-ordinated. Examples are: 1 zoning and development decisions that make possible the setting-up of shopping-centres in new commercial zones, in accessible locations, but do not make any explicit mention of retailing. This is because planning and building regulations generally do not make any distinction between manufacturing and marketing firms