The cost of one of the Bundestag’s biggest new construction projects has raised concerns for the commission of the Council of Elders. Consultations originally slated for January-centered on a report from the Federal Office for Building and Spatial Planning (BBR)-were pushed back to the end of March. Members of Parliament need more time to scrutinize the extensive documentation, according to “Spiegel” reports from insiders in the building and spatial affairs commission.
The new Luisenblock Ost 1, located near the Reichstag, was initially estimated to cost €893 million. Vice President of the Bundestag Omid Nouripour (Greens) recently informed “Spiegel” that the project could exceed €1 billion. Nouripour, who chairs the building commission, called for the implementation of “every possible savings opportunity” while insisting that there be no compromise to functionality or safety. He tasked the BBR with reviewing the project’s costs and identifying cost‑saving measures.
According to “Spiegel”, some commission members are questioning the possibility of building a subterranean tunnel beneath the new structure. However, the commission emphasized that any such approach must be balanced against safety concerns. Construction is slated to begin in 2027.
