There is enough building land available in Germany to build between 900,000 and around two million apartments, or even up to four million in densely built-up areas. This is according to a study conducted by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB).
There are at least 99,000 hectares of potentially buildable land in the cities and municipalities. Federal Building Minister Klara Geywitz says: "There is enough building land in Germany. As much as the size of Berlin or 140,000 soccer pitches." This means there is the potential to build 400,000 homes a year, 100,000 of which would be social housing. More than half of the building land can be built on in the short term.
"A joint effort is needed to ensure that the available land can be used for housing, schools, daycare centers and more," says Prof. Dr. Eckart Würzner, First Deputy President of the Association of German Cities. "Cities must be put in a position to buy land at a reduced price and develop it for the common good. Immediately usable building land must not be left lying around for speculative purposes," says Prof. Dr. Eckart Würzner.
Source and further information: bbsr.bund.de
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