In intensive discussions with Lord Mayor Dr. Nopper and numerous expert discussions of the "Working Group on Land Allocation, Planning & Construction" under the leadership of Mayor Pätzold and Mayor Fuhrmann as well as the "Working Group on Housing for All" under the leadership of Social Mayor Dr. Sußmann, important topics for future cooperation between the city and the housing industry were developed and joint agreements reached.
The focus is on economic, social and ecological aspects of housing in the future.
Potential for 20,000 new apartments by 2033
The city has set itself a very ambitious target: The construction of 20,000 new apartments is to be made possible by 2033. Relevant shares of municipal land are to be offered not only to building cooperatives, cooperative-oriented companies and Stuttgarter Wohnungs- und Städtebaugesellschaft mbH (SWSG), but also to real estate companies if they make relevant commitments for occupancy rights. In the housing stock, the 16,300 subsidized apartments and 19,000 apartments with municipal occupancy rights are to be maintained and expanded in the future.
The following measures are planned to improve implementation in the actual construction process: so-called project starter meetings between the housing industry and the city, the continuation of the round table at the Building Law Office and the expansion of the housing sub-committee in the future Housing Advisory Board to include knowledgeable residents.
Measures to create affordable housing
The Stuttgart inner development model (SIM) is also being modified. It concerns construction projects on private land where new planning law allows for higher land utilization and thus increases in value. The changes to the SIM include the following adjustments:
- In future, 30 percent of apartments on these sites must be proven to be in the social rental housing segment (with 40 percent below the local comparative rent). This is 10 percent more than previously stipulated.
- A further 10 percent is required in the area of rent-controlled housing (with 10 percent below the local comparative rent); alternatively, condominiums subsidized by the city are also possible here.
- This means that rent caps will be possible for 40 percent of newly built apartments in the future. This is an important contribution to creating and maintaining affordable housing.
Furthermore, the city is expanding its housing subsidies: in addition to the granted land reduction, there will be an additional municipal subsidy of 300 euros per square meter of living space for newly built social rental apartments. Housing projects that have been postponed for economic reasons could thus be restarted.
The results of the Social Department's "Housing for All" working group include the creation of inclusive neighborhoods, which are seen as an important part of social neighborhood development in order to provide housing for people in different social circumstances and life situations.
The WohnenPlus program has set the goal of creating 20 apartments per year. WohnenPlus is a municipal program that provides guarantee contracts for the owners of apartments. With WohnenPlus, private housing companies can now also take advantage of the program. Furthermore, the proportion of barrier-free and age-appropriate apartments is to be increased in order to meet future demand in this area.
Focus on climate-neutral urban development
With the goal of climate neutrality by 2035, the state capital has set itself an ambitious target. The municipal heating plan, which was adopted by the local council in December 2023, provides important guidance for the future of heat supply to homes.
An energy partnership will be concluded between the state capital and the alliance partners: The energy-efficient refurbishment of existing buildings and the climate-neutral energy supply in urban districts are two central and important building blocks; flanked by financial subsidies for the energy-efficient refurbishment of buildings from the city and the obligation of housing companies to invest in their housing stock.
Focus on the future of the partnership
The cooperation "Principles of cooperation between the state capital of Stuttgart and the Stuttgart housing industry for good and affordable housing" was agreed on July 25, 2024. The basic paper was signed by Lord Mayor Dr. Frank Nopper, representatives of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Stuttgarter Wohnungsunternehmen (ARGE) and the Verband der Immobilienwirtschaft Stuttgart e.V. (IWS).
The agreements are initially valid until December 31, 2025. A joint meeting between the state capital and Stuttgart's housing industry will take place in 2025 in order to continue the foundations of the cooperation and develop joint solutions for future challenges in the area of housing construction.
