Berlin Passes Law to Expedite Construction Amid Housing Shortage

The new legislation aims to streamline approval processes and shift authority to the state level, sparking criticism over environmental and local governance concerns.

The Berlin state parliament approved the 'Schneller-Bauen-Gesetz,' aimed at reducing delays in housing construction by introducing shorter deadlines and reassigning decision-making authority from districts to the state government for larger projects.
The law includes changes to ten existing laws, such as lowering standards for nature conservation and permitting faster approval processes for projects involving over 50 housing units.
Supporters, including the CDU and SPD, argue the law is necessary to address Berlin's growing housing crisis, citing a 450,000-person population increase between 2011 and 2022.
Opposition parties, including the Greens and the Left, criticize the law for undermining local governance, reducing environmental protections, and failing to address alternative solutions like repurposing vacant buildings.
Environmental groups warn of significant risks to biodiversity and urban green spaces, with concerns over relaxed requirements for compensating ecological damage and other conservation measures.