Federal Building Minister Verena Hubertz (SPD) is introducing a 13-point plan aimed at tackling the high costs of construction. According to the action plan, which was reported on by the Funke Media Group, elevated building expenses are identified as one of the primary reasons why insufficient construction is taking place in Germany. The paper emphasizes that addressing cost reduction requires more than simply making construction more attractive; it is fundamentally about ensuring that development projects can be realized in the first place.
Among the measures announced in the plan, Hubertz intends to make digital submission the mandatory standard for building applications starting in 2028, restricting paper submissions only to cases of documented hardship. Furthermore, the government plans to develop a bonus system within new construction funding programs. This system would incentivize faster construction times and reduced costs through the implementation of serialized and modular building methods.
In addition to these reforms, Hubertz has promised a new, central subsidy program for new buildings. Currently, various funding options exist at the federal level; this will be consolidated and structured modularly under one unified New Construction Promotion program.
The Ministry of Construction states that the 13-point plan is designed to significantly accelerate planning and approval processes, noticeably lower construction and acquisition adjunct costs, while simultaneously ensuring high quality and safety standards. This initiative comes against a backdrop of shrinking housing output. Data from the Federal Statistical Office in May revealed that 206,600 housing units were completed last year-a decline of 18 percent, or 45,400 homes, compared to the previous year, marking the fewest units finished since 2012.
