Georg Fischer is intending to release the industrial properties in the Mühlental Schaffhausen, which have only been used temporarily up until now for a permanent new use and has commissioned studies to examine the possibilities. The results are now available. The focal point is the redevelopment of the former steel foundry to create an extensive and attractive commercial and residential centre with hotel, multipurpose rooms for conferences and seminars, residential dwellings, various ancillary facilities and car parks. A large hall for events such as congresses, exhibitions, and cultural and sporting events is planned in addition. In its final configuration the project will create 2,000 new jobs.

In contrast to similar construction projects in the greater Zurich area, the new centre in the Mühlental is to be developed in various stages and at a reasonable cost. Valuable existing building substance will be incorporated where possible. The city and canton of Schaffhausen will support the planned redevelopment in the Mühlental close to the city centre although it is not part of the property development team. Georg Fischer is endeavouring to find a satisfactory solution for all previous tenants of the steel foundry and is helping them to find alternative accommodation. Once financing by external investors has been assured, Georg Fischer will withdraw from the project and sell the site.

The successful relocation of businesses as a result of the canton’s economic stimulus programme has resulted in an increased and sustained demand for centrally located commercial and office premises in Schaffhausen. The Mühlental location is ideally suited to meet this requirement. Göhner Merkur Totalunternehmung, Zurich, a company of the Geneva-based Zschokke Group, was commissioned to carry out the relevant studies of potential uses. On the basis of this, the architectural planning office of Hauswirth und Partner AG, Dipl. Architekten-Planer, Olten, carried out a preliminary project which will provide the basis for the subsequent construction project and for finding investors. The project is to be implemented in various stages. The first construction stage with about 35,000 sq. metres of leasable floor space will generate an investment volume of about CHF 120 million in the Schaffhausen region. In the second stage the provision of a further 29,000 m² of usable space and investments of about CHF 90 million are planned.

The planned redevelopment will focus on the former steel foundry, the parking lot with filling station, the former scrap hall, the former pattern store, the fittings storage hall and the so-called "Gaserei". The central research and development laboratory of the Automotive Products Group will remain in the possession of Georg Fischer and will not be used for any other purpose.

Through a flexible redesigning of properties in the Mühlental, a whole district in a prime central position with ideal traffic links will be considerably upgraded in value. User-friendly public transport is to be provided from Schaffhausen railway station to the "Vorderes Mühlental". The issues of environmental protection and preservation of historical monuments and optimum traffic handling will be examined carefully. The intended reuse of the Vorderes Mühlental is a unique opportunity for an urban redevelopment programme to revamp a district that is comparatively unattractive at present. Owing to its proximity to the old town of Schaffhausen, to the railway station and the junction to the A4 at the back, it has considerable advantages as a business location compared with other towns. An additional attraction for investors is the close link to the Landhaus/bus station area, which is likewise designated for reuse for the creation of a convenient living space.

Schaffhausen, October 24, 2001