Bad Kissingen is pushing for a housing construction offensive: faster and cheaper!

Bad Kissingen is pushing for a housing construction offensive: faster and cheaper!

There is a lot going on in Bad Kissingen, because IG BAU Mainfranken is calling for a rapid “housing construction turbo” for the district. This was announced by chairman Michael Groha, underlining the urgency of a “housing recovery”, which is necessary both in Bad Kissingen and throughout Bavaria. An increasing need for social housing and affordable living space must be met quickly, because housing is a basic need.

In order to meet this challenge, a new building is necessary, also in view of the 249 new apartments that were built in the district in 2022. Of these, 151 were single and two-family homes. The construction costs for 2024 amount to around 72.5 million euros. Groha is of the opinion that the housing market can be revitalized through a new construction offensive and the renovation of existing properties, especially for senior-friendly living. The figures cited by Groha come from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), and he sees the potential to reduce construction costs by up to a third.

Reduce bureaucracy

According to Groha, the solutions lie in de-bureaucratizing the construction industry. In concrete terms, this means reducing excessive standards and establishing less demanding building regulations. Technology in particular is perceived as a cost trap; Fewer high-end products for heating, ventilation and sanitary systems could help here. Savings in parking spaces for cars and the elimination of underground parking spaces are also on the list of optimizations.

These trends fit into the larger framework of the current political debate. Verena Hubertz, the Federal Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Construction, announced a corresponding “construction turbo” on May 15, 2025 to enable affordable housing for all social classes. “Housing is the social issue of our time,” she emphasizes and calls for more speed in the approval process. Creative approaches such as serial construction methods and the use of sustainable materials such as wood are the focus here.

New opportunities for communal living

Another aspect that should not be neglected in this context are community building projects that promote social bonds and enable sustainable living. Such models, for example building cooperatives, actively integrate residents into the construction process and are based on their needs. This means that not only ecological but also social sustainability criteria are taken into account. Still, this approach has its challenges, such as the higher initial investment and the risk of gentrification that can displace former residents.

Finally, it should be noted that the course is now being set for a more comprehensive housing policy at both local and national levels. The developments in Bad Kissingen are an example that it is high time for sustainable solutions.

For more information and details read the articles on Franconian day, Bundestag.de and Social housing.