Thomas Reimann
President of the Association of Construction Contractors of Hesse, Inc.
Dear Sir or Madam,
The construction industry plays a central role in society. It not only creates urgently needed housing but also contributes significantly to quality of life, social stability, and personal fulfillment. At the same time, we face major challenges: The housing market is extremely strained, and housing is among the most sought-after commodities of our time. This situation places particular demands not only on tenants but also on companies in the construction industry. It requires flexibility, adaptability, and the courage to break new ground.
One thing is indisputable: the creation of housing is a task for society as a whole. Politics, administration, and business must work together to develop sustainable and practical framework conditions. Reliability, planning security, and close coordination among all stakeholders are indispensable for this.
The construction industry thinks long-term. Our projects are substantial and require time. We are not sprinters, but marathon runners. Yet even our resources are not unlimited. Bureaucratic hurdles, uncertainties, and a lack of political reliability are making construction increasingly difficult. Furthermore, developments in the construction industry have a delayed impact on society: the decline in building permits over the past few years will only become fully apparent in the coming years.
At the same time, there are also positive signs. By 2025, the volume of orders has stabilized—albeit at a lower level. From January to November 2025, 215,500 housing units were approved nationwide, which is 11.3 percent more than in the same period the previous year. Nevertheless, the gap between housing demand and supply remains significant. The year 2025 was an eventful one. The change of government at the federal level and the first measures introduced, such as the “Bauturbo” and Construction Packages I and II in Hesse, provided important initial momentum.
However, this development is only the first step on the path out of the crisis. In the long term, the goal is to restore confidence in the industry. The introduction of Building Type E can be an important measure in this regard. A prerequisite for this, however, is a clear legal framework that allows for deviations from recognized technical standards to be agreed upon in a legally secure manner.
Equally crucial is the acceleration of approval procedures. Time is a key cost driver and currently one of the biggest barriers to investment. A nationwide digital building permit application system, the complete digitization of building files, and binding decision deadlines in all states can make a significant contribution here.
Furthermore, greater harmonization of building law is necessary. Today’s patchwork of 16 state building codes hinders standardization, repeatability, and efficiency.
Equally important are exchange and cohesion within the industry. This is precisely why platforms like BauExpo are of particular significance. They create space for exchange, foster new ideas, and open up perspectives for innovative concepts. For this era demands, above all, openness and a willingness to develop solutions together.
I wish you an exciting conference with interesting discussion partners and new opportunities for your projects.
Thomas Reimann
President of the Association of Construction Contractors of Hesse e.V.
