From Hildburg Bruns
Faster, lighter – but also more expensive! The Berlin Senate is overhauling the state’s building regulations.
The controversial draft by Red-Green-Red has made the nesting box requirement (3 boxes every 50 meters) a thing of the past, and children’s playgrounds only have to be created from six apartments (planned from three).
But the CDU/SPD Senate is making building more expensive:
►Larger roofs (from 100 m² and up to 10 degrees inclination) must be covered with greenery – if there is no other use.
►Half of the new apartments must be accessible without steps, the entrance door must have a clear width of 90 cm, at least one bathroom must have a floor-level shower and the movement areas in kitchens/bathrooms/bedrooms must be at least 1.20 x 1.20 meters. From 2025, three quarters of the apartments must be barrier-free.
Barrier-free living means 1.20 x 1.20 meters of freedom of movement in the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom Photo: Adobe
An expert: This increases the costs by around 16,000 euros per apartment.
►A cold water meter must also be installed in existing apartments from the end of 2030 – the landlord can pass on the costs.
What makes building easier:
►Roof extensions generally do not require approval. Likewise, covered bicycle parking areas of up to 50 m², cell phone masts up to 15 meters high on buildings and solar systems in, on and on roof and external wall surfaces.
►Existing buildings can be increased by two floors without the need for an elevator.
►The so-called type approval allows the same building types in different locations with just one approval.
►The distance from solar systems to fire protection walls is reduced.
The basic rule is: Anyone who has a building permit must start work within two years – and finish it after six years at the latest – otherwise the permit expires.