Germany needs more affordable housing. The federal government wants construction projects to be implemented more quickly in the future – without lengthy bureaucratic procedures. At the same time, criticism is growing.
Left Party politician Katalin Genburg has unconventional ideas about housing. She sees self-settlement as a legitimate way to provide more housing. Genburg is the spokesperson for the Left Party's new construction policy in the Bundestag.
Affordable housing is lacking. Rents in large cities have increased by 50% since 2015. Residents have less time to file objections.
“The construction turbo“ provides for a shorter time between the application for construction and the actual start of the construction project: just 2 months instead of the previous 5 years in some cities.
„We see that the restriction of citizen participation is a huge problem. Because people lack democracy. This means that they actually need more participation, not less“, says Genburg.
However, Federal Minister of Construction Verena Hubertz disagrees. From the perspective of a politician from the Social Democratic Party, there is enough time for citizen participation when the decisive phase of the construction project begins in just 2 months. „No participation is being neglected here. Cities and municipalities can decide this specifically for themselves at local level. The only important thing is that these things are not postponed until the last minute.“
The minister's words reflect above all a desire for speed in construction – and not for debate among residents.
The change is also causing bewilderment among environmentalists. Stefan Petzold of the Nature Conservation Union (NABU) is concerned that green spaces could disappear at a “turbo“ speed in the future, especially in larger cities, as new construction is prioritized and the possibilities for objections are becoming fewer. For Petzold, forests and parks are crucial for the climate. He recalls the heat wave at the beginning of the month.
Around two million apartments in Germany are vacant, as well as a lot of commercial space that could be converted into housing. According to Petzold, their use would be significantly more sustainable than building new ones.
If it were up to him, the “construction turbo“ would be limited to converting existing buildings. He talks about the huge potential in inner-city areas. “I think everyone can think of countless one-story supermarkets where a few more floors could be added. This would also deal with demographic changes by simply shortening the distances to amenities.“
Expansion of buildings and construction of new ones – the draft law provides for both. Now a healthy balance will be sought. Either way, the construction industry is happy. It can expect many new orders thanks to the “construction push“.
Detailed statistics on average property prices in Bulgaria by cities and neighborhoods can be seen HERE