Building economy: Merz wants upswing in affordable living

After years of construction crisis in Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) wants to ensure significantly more affordable living space. “We have to build easier, we have to build serial,” said Merz at the day of the construction industry in Berlin. After four years of recession under construction in Germany, the industry hopes for significant improvement, as the President of the main association of the German construction industry, Peter Hübner, made it clear.

Merz ‘goal: own apartment for normal earners

The previous government had promised 400,000 new apartments in Germany each year, but never achieved the goal. There were more than 215,000 building permits last year.

Now Merz said: “If you earn normally in Germany, you have to be able to acquire normal residential property.” The federal government could do a lot. “We are determined to get this on the way that is built faster, easier, cheaper in Germany, so that an average family in Germany can usually affect residentiality.” Affordable living space is one of the greatest social issues.

Half a million apartments too little

“We are building too expensive in Germany, too complicated, and everything takes far too long, and we are determined to change something,” said Merz at his first appearance at an industrial day as a chancellor. Merz put the lack of apartments on “500,000 and more”.

The Chancellor asked the municipalities to provide land: “We need building land.” Approval procedures must also go faster. Merz praised approval fictions in some federal states, i.e. the possibility that permits are considered granted after a period.

Federal Minister of Construction Verena Hubertz (SPD) announced that he would also want to bring social housing thoroughly forward. The new “building type E” should be easier and de -bureaucratized.

Hubertz announced that the public clients also wanted to enter a “competition for the best idea” with private builders. The federal and state governments would also purify the planning law. Her predecessor, the traffic light construction minister Klara Geywitz (SPD), had also taken such steps.

Branch complains “system crisis”

The President of the main association of the German construction industry, Peter Hübner, stated: “We have been in a Baurezession since the fifth year.” Hübner accused the federal government completely confusing funding instruments. “Housing construction just doesn’t get going.” In the program “Frühstart” by RTL and NTV, Hübner therefore spoke of a “system failure”, among other things, through the traffic light construction funding.

However, the top representative of the industry was confident that the current coalition would make it better in the future. Hübner also admitted self -critically that the construction industry also needs more efficient processes. “We have to be even more digital.” However, the willingness of the builders is also necessary for the use of digital methods.

The current occupancy of the companies is only 70 percent – new orders could come. The trend reversal in housing construction could succeed in the next few years if the public sector reduces bureaucratic obstacles.

Construction industry association – Dates notification of the association of the construction industry