“It all began in 2011, paradoxically as an intervention due to the failure of spatial planning in Vorarlberg,” says regional developer Martin Strele. Land is in short supply, especially in Vorarlberg, Austria's westernmost province. Every day, an average of 1,500 m² of grassland is re-designated as building land or land that is expected to be used by farmers. This is despite the fact that more than a third of the land already dedicated to construction remains undeveloped.

“We have for years now seen the problem of too much land dedicated to building, which is not sold but instead simply retained while prices continue to inflate,” says regional developer Martin Strele. The protection accorded to owners and a very industry-friendly political climate appear more important than the common welfare or long-term precautionary measures, however. The Bodenfreiheit association was created as a response. “It all began in 2011, paradoxically as an intervention due to the failure of spatial planning in Vorarlberg,” explains Strele, chairman of the association, which is now clearly signposting a different way of dealing with land.

“We want to use crowdfunding to keep strategically important areas permanently free and accessible by purchasing them or acquiring rights to them,” he says. The association has successfully bought its first plots of land and acquired walking rights, while public pressure has prevented the planned expansion of settlements. In addition the handling of property in Vorarlberg has become an important topic. Previously-hidden decisions to allow unlimited development of building land, loosen restrictions on the regional green belt or permit further urban sprawl are now consistently being made public and discussed. “There are numerous current initiatives countering this trend,” Strele is pleased to report.