Housing construction turbo required: IG BAU wants to strengthen the Nuremberg region!

Housing construction turbo required: IG BAU wants to strengthen the Nuremberg region!

The housing situation in the Nuremberg region is getting worse. IG BAU Mittelfranken has formulated clear demands to counteract the housing shortage. Chairwoman Iris Santoro calls for a “housing construction turbo” to overcome the numerous challenges of the regional housing market. As N-land reports, the creation of social housing and affordable living space is the focus of constant discussion.

Last year, a modest 500 new apartments were built in the Nuremberg region, of which 202 were single- and two-family houses. In view of the estimated construction costs of around 128 million euros for 2024, IG BAU is convinced that a new construction offensive is urgently needed. Particularly noteworthy is the demand for more senior-friendly housing for everyday needs, which is intended to promote the quality of life of residents in the Nuremberg region.

Political framework conditions and challenges

IG BAU draws attention to the pressing problems resulting from the current housing shortage. In Germany there is a shortage of around 550,000 apartments, of which 35,000 are in the metropolis of Berlin alone. The situation is exacerbated by the continued decline in new construction, which further underlines the need to reduce construction costs by a quarter to a third.

Demographic change, particularly due to the retirement of the baby boomers, is further increasing the pressure on the housing market. Experts are calling for a comprehensive construction stimulus program that not only supports new construction, but also gives the construction industry an urgently needed sign of life. According to current studies presented in Berlin, Germany needs to create at least 210,000 social housing units annually to meet demand.

Cost reduction and de-bureaucratization as solutions

IG BAU proposes optimizations in the construction sector in order to reduce high costs and avoid delays in construction. A central point is the demand for a “building type E” that enables simpler and more efficient construction. However, Santoro warns against excessive requirements, for example in terms of noise and climate protection, such as the use of triple-glazed windows, which unnecessarily increase construction costs. Reducing the number of parking spaces for cars could also lead to cost savings.

A relaxation of DIN standards and a derived approach to reducing bureaucracy are other key measures that Santoro has in his sights. “It is possible to build high quality and cheaper,” she emphasizes emphatically, calling on politicians and the construction industry to work together.

The nationwide dimension

At the national level, current market facts show that residential construction accounted for 57% of the total construction volume in 2023. Nevertheless, prices for new residential construction rose 3.1% compared to the same quarter last year, a sign that construction is under pressure not only locally but also on a national scale. BMWSB emphasizes that the federal government has already taken measures to counteract this trend and thus support housing construction.

Overall, the challenges in the housing market are linked to the increasing demand for living space and the oppressive construction costs. In order to do justice to the full spectrum of existing problems, both political and structural innovations are necessary. Only through targeted measures will it be possible to secure the quality of life of people in the Nuremberg region and to develop sustainable housing concepts.