Berlin, May 12 – The Berlin Senate has approved a new law designed to simplify and accelerate the construction of housing, making it more affordable for residents. The proposed “Simplified Building Act” seeks to lower construction standards and streamline approval processes, according to an announcement by Building Senator Christian Gaebler (SPD).
New Legislation to Be Approved Before Summer Recess
The new article law will amend several existing regulations and is expected to be approved by the House of Representatives before the summer recess. This initiative follows the “Faster Building Act,” which came into force at the end of 2024, demonstrating the Senate’s continued commitment to addressing the housing crisis.
Key Changes in the Simplified Building Act:
- Building Code Amendments: Facilitates the conversion of existing buildings into residential units.
- Reduced Requirements: Lowers legal requirements for fire and sound insulation, and minimum ceiling heights in attics.
- Elimination of Storage Room Mandate: Removes the obligation to create storage rooms in new residential buildings.
- Accelerated Permit Procedures: Shortens certain deadlines within building permit processes.
- Simplified Monument Protection: Amends the Monument Protection Act, allowing monument protection authorities to designate measures that no longer require separate approval.
Senator Gaebler emphasized that the package aims to make housing construction faster, more efficient, and more cost-effective. “Together with the Faster Building Act, which came into force at the end of 2024, we are improving the framework conditions for construction projects,” he stated.
Addressing Berlin’s Housing Shortage
Despite setting a long-standing goal of building 20,000 new apartments annually, Berlin has consistently fallen short. The Senate hopes these new measures will help the city achieve this target and provide much-needed affordable housing.
Elif Eralp, the top candidate for the Left Party, proposed a concept for building 7,500 affordable apartments annually with an average rent of 8 euros per square meter. She suggested that a new public project developer should implement this municipal program.
Gaebler noted that municipal companies have gained momentum in housing construction and aim to complete 6,500 apartments this year. He expressed skepticism about the need for a new “Central Council for Fast Building.” He also challenged the Left Party to specify where construction could take place, observing that they often oppose building projects. “I increasingly find that with all construction projects (…) the Left Party always says: not here, not like that or not so much,” Gaebler added.
Previous Efforts: The Faster Building Act
The “Faster Building Act” already introduced dozens of measures to expedite project preparation and implementation. These included streamlining and standardizing planning and approval procedures, introducing review and processing deadlines, and clarifying responsibilities between the state and districts.
The current lack of affordable housing and rising construction costs have made it imperative for the city to take decisive action. The new law is a direct response to these challenges, aiming to cut red tape and reduce financial burdens on developers.
The impact of these changes will be closely monitored, with stakeholders hoping for a significant increase in housing availability and a stabilization of rental prices in the coming years. The city administration remains committed to fostering a more dynamic and accessible housing market for all Berlin residents.
Source: https://berliner-abendblatt.de/berlin-news/bauen-soll-in-berlin-einfacher-werden-id333898
