Political push for increased residential development - proposal submitted at the state political party gathering - Proposal for Increased Housing: Motion Introduced at the National Congress (by SPD)
Title: Schleswig-Holstein SPD's Plan to Boost Housing Market Discussed at Conference
- *
The Schleswig-Holstein's SPD is pushing for aggressive housing development. This Saturday, a motion addressed at the party conference in Husum will be tabled to outline strategies for facilitating and speeding up housing construction. A proposed solution is the re-establishment of a state-owned housing development company—dissolving the State Development Corporation (LEG) was identified as a previous mistake, according to Kiel's mayor and deputy state chairman, Ulf Kämpfer, of the German Press Agency.
Such a company would leverage underutilized state-owned land, expand its own housing inventory (including homes for public employees), and possibly revitalize local communities. "This is an appealing and crucial idea," asserted Kämpfer. "The state stands to benefit immensely from such an endeavor."
Funding Social Housing
Critics argue that the state would be heavily burdened financially. However, Kämpfer contends that Schleswig-Holstein possesses considerable acreage as a reserve. "Community-focused housing construction and profitability need not clash."
Furthermore, the motion advocates boosting funding for social housing to one billion euros annually. This would involve subsidized credit, with the state obligated to contribute roughly 20 million euros per year, stated Kämpfer. "This isn't a question of fiscal capacity but intent."
Streamlining Construction Processes
Much of the motion focuses on simplifying and expediting residential construction. A suggested framework dubbed the "Schleswig-Holstein standard for simplified building" would make it simpler to navigate building regulations and usual standards, while aiming to harmonize the state's building code with those of other states.
For example, streamlining type approvals across state borders would be beneficial. The validity of building permits should be extended from three to five years. In the future, similar regulations should govern housing planning as those guiding the expansion of renewable energies. Housing construction could then be designated as "overriding public interest."
To assist first-time buyers in acquiring homes, the motion supports cutting real estate transfer tax—offering a tax exemption.
- Ambitious Housing Development
- Schleswig-Holstein SPD
- Husum
- Ulf Kämpfer
- Subsidized credit
- Real estate transfer tax
- Simplified building
- Housing construction turbo
Enrichment Insights:- At the federal level, the newly formed CDU/CSU-SPD coalition proposes a "Wohnungsbau Turbo" (housing construction turbo) initiative to expedite housing construction by streamlining building codes and consolidating subsidy programs.- Local housing policies in Schleswig-Holstein might involve the involvement of Deputy Minister-President Aminata Touré, who holds social affairs, youth, family, senior citizens, integration, and equality portfolios.- Reforming state development corporations could involve restructuring their roles to prioritize and support housing construction, including expanding funding for affordable housing projects or streamlining approval processes.- Adjustments to building regulations could potentially loosen environmental or energy efficiency standards to reduce construction costs and timeframes, much like the proposed federal policies.
- The Schleswig-Holstein SPD's plan for aggressive housing development, as discussed at the conference in Husum, calls for the re-establishment of a state-owned housing development company to address underutilized state-owned land and boost housing construction.
- Ulf Kämpfer, Kiel's mayor and deputy state chairman, argues that funding for social housing could be increased without financial burden through subsidized credit and a cut in real estate transfer tax.
- The motion also aims to streamline construction processes by implementing the "Schleswig-Holstein standard for simplified building," which would harmonize the state's building code with other states and make it simpler to navigate building regulations.
- Housing construction turbo, an initiative proposed by the newly formed CDU/CSU-SPD coalition at the federal level, might have similar objectives as the Schleswig-Holstein SPD's plan in terms of expediting housing construction by streamlining building codes and consolidating subsidy programs.
){kind=link}