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Germany’s ‘Bau‑Turbo’ Rolls Out Locally as Costs Blunt Impact

High building costs plus financing gaps overshadow the promised procedural gains.

Overview

  • Municipalities are beginning to apply the temporary acceleration law, with Mindelheim drafting guidelines and stressing there is no legal right to its use.
  • The tool lets councils deviate from planning rules to speed approvals, ease densification, and in linked cases permit projects on outer‑area land if public and neighbor protections are met.
  • Local officials note cities must still provide land and infrastructure, a hurdle for cash‑strapped municipalities highlighted by sector groups.
  • An IW economist warned the measure will quickly fizzle without action on construction costs, echoing concerns from Haus & Grund.
  • A non‑representative Musterhaus.net survey of 110 prospective or recent owners cites average new‑build costs near €510,000, budgets often far lower, and strong support for tax write‑offs, grants, and cheaper loans.