By proposing the creation over the next 10 years of 3,000 housing units, designed for all categories of the population, the Municipality has accepted the suggestions made by the people within the Quartiers 21 initiative. Three guidelines make up this decisive policy:

• Continue to build subsidized housing, in total a third of those that are built, favouring diversity. 
• Develop social and tax equilibrium within the Community by attracting higher-earning taxpayers through offering housing with a high standard of architecture and surroundings. 
• Produce new categories of housing, either “unfinished” (internal walls and final details to be defined by the future tenant) or better suited for seniors (free from architectural barriers, connected or close to medical care networks).
   

A high-priority project for the Community

This political willingness is embodied in the decision to prioritize this project and to place major importance upon it for the development of the City. In the operational plan, an internal unit was put together, under the aegis of the Environment, Health, and Housing Service (SEHL), to manage all of these operations in cooperation with public and private partners. Specifications for sustainable development, currently being prepared, will also provide recommendations for any company, cooperative, or foundation that would like to build or renovate housing units on community land by the right of superficies. Finally, the Municipality suggests opening an information counter within SEHL, which will also bring it publicity during large sales events (Home and Garden, Comptoir Suisse, etc.).

Possibilities for building

To ensure a larger area for housing, the Lausanne City Council will prioritize its activities concerning the land it controls. Some operations for grouped housing within Vers-chez-les-Blanc were already able to begin in 2005. With the adoption of the new general commitment plan for 2006, most major operations on community land in the city will be able to begin, for example in Victor-Ruffy, Faverges, Beaulieu, Mayoresses and Provence. As of 2007, building may begin in some transitional areas, particularly in the Vernand-Bel-Air area. Over the long term, strategic privately-owned land will offer significant potential, including Sébeillon/Sévelin belonging to CFF or the La Borde station belonging to TL. For the land in question – community and private land – the creation of 3000 housing units by 2016 seems feasible, for the most part, at a rate of 300 new housing units per year. Various factors will make it possible to support this movement: the adoption of the new general commitment plan, making many pieces of land available for building, the m2 being put into operation, and the new public transportation network.

These new policy guidelines will have sizeable financial impacts for Lausanne: the gradual availability of some 150,000 to 200,000 m² of community land for construction by the right of superficies will be able to yield an additional estimated annual revenue of between 2.4 and 4 million francs. In addition, the arrival of new middle-class and wealthy taxpayers will ensure an increase in tax revenues.