Site contamination

Dealing responsibly with the past

The Klybeck site is a former chemical production facility. The heritage of any industrial site with a long manufacturing history includes subsoil and building contamination.

Swiss Life takes a sustainable approach to site contamination of this type and deals with it extremely carefully. Extensive investigations, constant systematic monitoring and clear legal specifications provide assurance. Although industrial pollutants present a major challenge, it is a challenge that can be overcome, transforming the former industrial site into a diverse, green, intermixed and climate-friendly district for the people of Basel.

Background

The enforcement authority currently classifies the Klybeck site as “polluted and in need of monitoring”. “In need of monitoring” means conducting continuous scientific investigations to ensure that there are no unnoticed harmful impacts on natural assets (groundwater, surface water, air or soil). If the authorities become aware of any such detrimental effects, they order remediation. At present the land is contaminated and subject to mandatory remediation. Specifically, there is chlorobenzene damage at Swiss Life’s site 3. BASF, the previous owner, is preparing to remediate this damage.

The Klybeck site is not publicly accessible in its entirety owing to its industrial past and the fact that parts of it are still in business use. All accessible areas of the site or buildings are safe to enter and use.

Clear legal requirements

There are very detailed rules on how site contamination has to be dealt with. The underlying legislation, such as the Federal and cantonal Environmental Protection Act and the Site Contamination and Waste Ordinance, provide the framework for all measures supervised by the competent authorities. Swiss Life is also conducting additional analyses to ensure it has a full understanding of the situation. The company is constantly reviewing and improving its level of knowledge. The extensive investigations thus available will provide a comprehensive picture of the situation as regards contamination.

Contamination will be addressed in the course of construction projects

Swiss Life is aware of its special responsibility as a developer. The procedure for building on contaminated sites is subject to clear rules. When it has a definite construction project, Swiss Life has an obligation to submit to the authorities a scheme setting out the legally compliant contamination and waste remediation measures that it intends to take. Specifically, these are a construction-related risk assessment and a disposal scheme. Implementation starts as soon as the authorities have approved the project and will be subject to official enforcement monitoring.

As soon as the future uses have been determined and projects enter the design, approval and construction phase, the contamination is addressed as part of the actual project, and materials are progressively decontaminated and disposed of in legal compliance with the Waste Ordinance.

Transparency and documentation

Swiss Life publish comprehensive investigations and analyses concerning the site contamination at Klybeck so that the public have access to the current state of knowledge as regards subsoil and building contamination. That way people can form their own picture of the situation.

The documentation that has been published comprises investigation results and documentation available when the parts of the site were purchased, as well as additional reports that Swiss Life commissioned as the development project progressed, for example in connection with planned demolition or new-build projects or in connection with the use of existing buildings. Only reports on completed procedures are published. The documents are regularly updated and supplemented according to the project’s planning status.

The link takes you to the data room, where you can register and view documents belonging to the two site owners, Swiss Life and Rhystadt, on the current situation as regards contamination.

All the content on this site will be regularly updated. New findings and results will be directly added to the documentation.

Media release 18.03.2025:
Standortbelastungen Klybeck-Areale: Eine lösbare Aufgabe (Text in German)

Media release 28.03.2025:
Dokumente zu Standortbelastungen öffentlich zugänglich (Text in German)