Unterallgäu fights against construction costs and bureaucracy – solutions presented!

Unterallgäu fights against construction costs and bureaucracy – solutions presented!

How is the construction industry going in the Unterallgäu district? This question was the focus of an economic discussion that District Administrator Alex Eder held together with representatives of the district administration, chambers of commerce and local companies. The high construction costs in combination with a complex bureaucracy were discussed in detail, while the current company survey 2025 paints an overall positive picture of the region: robust, willing to invest and growth-oriented. Satisfaction with the business location remains at a good level, but the challenges are clear: the construction industry is struggling with high costs, enormous administrative effort, a shortage of skilled workers and the need for company successions. The full evaluation of the company survey is expected in the coming weeks, as B4B Schwaben reports.

One of the central points of the discussion was the shortage of skilled workers, which many companies see as a fundamental challenge. According to a comprehensive study by PwC Germany, 80% of the construction companies surveyed said that the lack of skilled workers is significantly slowing their growth. The survey also shows that 93% of construction companies demand a drastic reduction in bureaucratic hurdles. These views are not isolated, it is also clear from [Meistertipp](https://www.meistertipp.de/aktuelles/news/kritik-am-bau-digitalisierung-esg-und-fachkraefte Mangel- Bremsen/) that 70% of companies report losses in sales and postponed projects, which underlines the need for changes in the industry's business models.

Suggestions for changes

Christian Baumann, Head of the Construction and Environment Department, presented initial measures to reduce construction costs and shorten construction times during the conversation. Proposals include serial and modular construction methods, as well as building type E, which avoids excessive comfort standards. This could help address industry challenges more effectively.

In addition, legal relief was brought into play. The digital building application is to be introduced, accompanied by the abolition of the parking requirement for renovations. The construction turbo, a measure to speed up approvals for apartment buildings, could also help to make construction easier and not prevent it, as the district administrator emphasizes. This is happening against the background of stagnating digitalization within the industry. [PwC].

The role of digitalization

The pressure on the construction industry cannot be overlooked. Digital transformation has fallen into the background - Meistertipp reports that the implementation of sustainable developments is currently not meeting expectations. Although four out of five companies recognize the potential of cloud technologies and digital tools, development of innovative approaches such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) is stagnating. Confidence in artificial intelligence is growing, but there is often a lack of the necessary human resources and know-how.

The responsibility for meeting these challenges now lies in the hands of politicians and the construction industry. The political deadlock could further jeopardize the productivity and competitiveness of the construction industry if viable solutions are not found. People and companies in the construction industry are looking forward to the changes necessary to emerge stronger from the current crisis. B4B Swabians, PwC and Master tip impressively demonstrate this urgent need for action.