Taoua project defeated

LAUSANNE. In a close vote in the referendum on 13 April, the planned commercial and residential project, Tour de Beaulieu, nicknamed the “Taoua” was rejected by 51.9% of Lausanne voters. Turnout for the vote was 37.6% which according to the municipality was unusually high for such a vote. The controversial project had been the source of concerted campaigns by both its advocates and opponents. The political backing both for and against the project could only be described as eclectic, with unlikely alliances such as the right-wing UDC and the Gauche parties campaigning for a acceptance of the project, while the Socialists and liberals advocated its rejection.
The municipality, which had backed the scheme has reaffirmed its commitment to the development of the Beaulieu Conference centre and in a statement confirmed that it will work in concert with the project’s opponents to find a workable way forward to develop Beaulieu, which is viewed widely as one of the city’s most important economic assets.
Seen as a blow to the economic development of the city, the municipality claims that the defeat was a result of voter dislike of the potential visual impact of the development, rather than disagreement with the municipality’s underlying development policies of densification, economic and population growth, and sustainable transport.