Construction of roads and housing projects in Germany is being significantly hampered by excessive bureaucratic processes, according to Jörg Rösler, a board member at construction firm Strabag.
Rösler, speaking to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, echoed recent comments by the Chancellor, referring to what he described as the “reality” of overwhelming bureaucracy. He highlighted specific examples, such as the requirement for new planning approval processes even when replacing damaged infrastructure where the outcome is largely predetermined, labelling the practice as “absurd.
He further emphasized the significant delays caused by numerous opportunities for objections from citizens, municipalities and various associations. “All of this consumes an incredible amount of time and resources” Rösler stated. He also criticized the slow adoption of digital building permit applications, noting that only 594 municipalities are currently utilizing the system. The lack of standardization across Germany’s 16 states, with six operating independently, was also flagged as a major obstacle.
Rösler asserted that an estimated 85 percent of time spent on infrastructure projects is dedicated to the approval phase, with only 15 percent allocated to actual construction. He stressed the urgent need to accelerate processes across both road construction and housing development to improve efficiency. “To move forward, all processes must be accelerated” he concluded.