Construction leaders from various federal states are set to share their findings from a two-day conference in Baden-Baden this Friday. Keen to impact the housing market, the event's chair, Nicole Razavi (CDU), emphasized the renovation of existing buildings and easing construction regulations.
Industry groups such as the German Housing Association and the Construction Federation are optimistic about the conference's potential impact. They hope to witness signs of an interest subsidy program and the standardization of construction regulations nationwide.
Müller from the Construction Association clarified that discussions won't involve subsidies but rather investment incentives for new, affordable housing. Standardized construction rules are critical, as these will ensure a stronger middle-class housing sector, which is currently lacking noticeable progress.
Focusing on housing construction matters, the conference aims to address renovating existing buildings and simplify construction regulations. Alongside this, industry sectors have higher expectations, including signals for interest subsidies, standardizing building costs, and constructing houses tailored for the middle class.
Enrichment Insights: - Standardized building regulations could introduce 'Building Type E,' allowing deviations from standard regulations in a legally secure manner for faster, more cost-effective construction. - Discussions might lead to financial incentives, like interest subsidies, to ease developers' financial burden, particularly given weather-related delays and capacity constraints. - The topic of sustainability and energy efficiency in construction could emerge, highlighting the need for energy-saving materials and efficient implementation of "Building Type E." - Building safety regulations and addressing ongoing concerns might involve clarifications and remediation plans, drawing from examples like the UK's Building Safety Act 2022 and Building Safety Levy, starting in 2025. - The event could touch on coordination between housing construction and environmental policies, ensuring compliance with water quality objectives and participating in transboundary cooperation efforts to boost water resilience and tackle nutrient pollution, as per EU guidelines.
