Hamburg to speed up building permits

"This new version of the Hamburg Building Code implements many suggestions from the chambers and the construction industry and speeds up planning permits. Building becomes faster," said Karen Pein, Senator for Urban Development and Housing. A building notice will suffice for smaller projects such as detached or semi-detached houses that are built as part of a qualified development plan. 

Heat pumps, charging stations for electric cars and power stations on balconies could all be installed without a permit. "That saves people time and money," said Pein. Larger building projects will be processed within two months. So-called concentrated procedures will no longer apply to large commercial projects, and planning permission should be granted within three months. Another change encourages experimental construction and allows for deviations from certain building regulations for cost-effective construction and housing.

The draft also foresees adaptations for existing buildings. Conversions e.g., of office space to living space are to be simplified. Owners no longer have to bring walls and ceilings up to the standard of new-buildings. These measures should make the preservation and conversion of existing buildings more attractive and cheaper. Mobility requirements are to be assessed on an individual basis, according to location and use, instead of a fixed requirement for car parking spaces. This would benefit inner-city residential and commercial projects and ensure modern transport planning.
fw/kk/pb