"Wolfsburg continues to grow - this is confirmed not least by our Population Report 2026. That's why we need more straightforward ways to create living space. When used correctly, the construction turbo is one such option. In this resolution of principle, we combine speed with responsibility and ensure that new districts are integrated into the development of our city in a sustainable, high-quality and future-proof manner. In this way, we are strengthening Wolfsburg as an attractive place to live and work for future generations," explains Kai-Uwe Hirschheide, First City Councillor and City Planning Councillor.

When does the administration decide - and when does the council?

In principle, the construction turbo is intended to accelerate residential construction in Germany. The construction turbo allows deviations from existing planning law to a certain extent if this creates living space. In essence, the decision in principle is about clarifying the extent to which the municipality's approval is considered to be a matter of ongoing administration and when approval must be granted by the council.

Silke Lässig, Head of Urban Planning and Building Consultancy, adds: "The construction turbo opens up new scope for accelerating housing construction, which we want to use efficiently. Nevertheless, we can only justify deviations from planning law where they are compatible with urban development, take private and public interests into account in a balanced way and do not counteract our long-term development strategy."

"Simple" or "Comprehensive" turbo?

The basic resolution distinguishes between a "simple turbo" (administration decides) and a "comprehensive turbo" (council resolution required). Projects of less than one hectare that have a manageable impact on private and public interests should fall under the simple turbo. These could be, for example, redensification projects (e.g. adding storeys or building in the second row), which can only be transferred to individual comparable cases in the neighborhood.

The comprehensive turbo is intended to cover projects of more than one hectare as well as those that represent significant deviations from the central content of existing planning law or set an example for numerous comparable cases (e.g. area-wide addition of storeys or development in the second row). As a rule, the scope of the technical review and the need for expert opinions (e.g. species protection or noise protection) also increase in such cases. Public participation is provided for in cases of extensive turbulence.

Case-by-case assessment, construction obligation, assumption of costs

In addition, the envisaged resolution in principle sets out conditions that are linked to the approval of the municipality. These are at least a construction obligation, the assumption of any subsequent planning and infrastructure costs and the assumption of the costs of any necessary expert opinions. This ensures that the subsidized projects for the creation of housing are actually implemented and that the costs incurred for necessary expert opinions and follow-up infrastructure costs are not borne by the general public.

Despite the simplification in terms of faster residential construction, a generalization is not possible; instead, all projects must continue to be considered and applied for individually. The regulations of the Bauturbo apply exclusively to regular residential construction. Boarding houses, vacation apartments, care homes or similar social facilities are not covered.