Housing Acceleration Plan (IG Bau): Halle should reap benefits from the "fast-tracked housing" initiative

Housing Acceleration Plan (IG Bau): Halle should reap benefits from the "fast-tracked housing" initiative

Construction Boom in Halle: IG BAU's Perspective

The construction industry in Halle (Saale) is gearing up for a revamp, as IG BAU Saxony-Anhalt South demands a housing construction surge. With the new government's mandate for quick housing growth in mind, Kerstin Fischer, the district chairwoman, insists, "We need a property boom here, and Halle must reap the benefits."

The city witnessed the construction of 306 apartments last year, but there's room for improvement, with Fischer stating, "each apartment makes a difference, yet more new constructions are needed." The total planned costs for residential buildings in Halle (Saale) by 2024 are approximately 57.1 million euros, according to IG BAU's calculations based on Destatis data.

Fischer emphasizes that affordability is key to ramping up construction. "The more reasonable it becomes to build, the more constructions there will be," she says. Research by the state building research institute ARGE suggests that construction costs can be reduced by a quarter to a third by streamlining the building process.

Streamlining Construction: Cost-Effective Solutions

To make housing more affordable, construction needs a simplification. Kerstin Fischer advocates for a leaner, more cost-efficient approach, championing the "building type E." This method involves lower ceiling and outer wall strengths, reduced material usage, and energy efficiency measures.

The primary cost driver, however, is technology - heating, ventilation, sanitation, and electricity systems. Fischer suggests using less high-end, expensive products for these systems, making housing significantly cheaper in the long run.

Space Efficiency: A Helpful Cost Saver

Moreover, savings can be made by decreasing the number of parking spaces, particularly underground garages, and avoiding overstepping noise and climate protection measures with excessive requirements like triple-glazed windows.

Fischer advocates for labeling housing construction as "good & cheap." With advances in building technology and streamlined regulations, it's now possible to achieve high-quality construction at lower costs. "This is the opportunity to build more again – even in Halle," she says, stressing that affordable housing is crucial.

The state also benefits financially if it streamlines construction regulations, as reduced costs translate to less funding needed for housing projects, thus promoting more social housing and affordable housing construction.

According to IG BAU, the federal and state governments should provide 11 billion euros in funding annually for the construction of 100,000 social housing units, and 4 billion euros for 60,000 affordable homes. For more information on this housing study, the "Building Type E," and necessary changes in housing construction, visit www.wohnungsbau-tag.de.

Building more affordably doesn't mean sacrificing quality. It's about finding cost-efficient solutions that balance affordability with safety and sustainability.

In the context of Halle's construction boom, Kerstin Fischer, the district chairwoman, emphasizes the need for a leaner, more cost-efficient approach in the business of housing construction, aiming to create affordable real estate. To achieve this, Fischer suggests employing building type E for lower construction costs and energy efficiency, and implementing less expensive technologies for heating, ventilation, sanitation, and electricity systems.

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