As I wrote in the pool redevelopment piece, I was worried about the timeline and delays around that project. When researching more about delays, I found out that Berlin passed the Faster Construction Law (Schneller-Bauen-Gesetz) in December 2024. You can read the English announcement here, further details in German here and the full law here (which seems hosted on the Berlin Chamber of Architectures, I'm struggling to find a copy of the law on official websites).

It'll take me a while to dig into all the details, but there's some changes around timelines and approvals I find quite interesting.

First, the law sets strict timelines for administrative review:

• Authorities get 4 weeks to check if an application is complete and request missing documents
• Once complete, agencies have 1 month for review
• Can get 1 extra month if multiple agencies need to coordinate
• Heritage protection decisions get another month on top

If these deadlines aren't met, something powerful happens: the application is automatically approved. This "default approval" mechanism means:

• No response = approval ("gilt das Einvernehmen als erteilt")
• Only limited exceptions (like major traffic impacts)

This is a big deal because it fundamentally changes the incentives. Previously, bureaucratic delay meant projects got stuck in limbo - potentially forever. Now, delay works in favor of the applicant, resulting in automatic (though revocable) approval. This creates real pressure on authorities to process applications within their deadlines, while giving developers certainty about maximum wait times.

Another interesting aspect is provisions applying to the following categories of projects:

• housing with 50+ units
• Schools and daycare centers
• Commercial projects with >3000sqm area
• Public utility infrastructure These have a pre-application conference including decision makers from all relevant departments, and must be held within a month of request. The aim seems to be to get potential issues highlighted early, and to get comprehensive input to prevent later delays from sequential reviews.

As this law focuses on administrative and approval processes rather than tax, zoning, density rules, it doesn't directly address many Georgist concerns about land use and speculation. However, it does give Berlin right of first refusal on property sales, giving the city opportunities to acquire strategic land when it comes on the market. There are also provisions to help streamline adding extra floors to buildings and converting existing structures to housing. So while not tackling core Georgist issues (like capturing community-created value through Land Value Tax or separating land value from improvements), it should at least encourage more efficient use of existing land and buildings.

As the law is quite new, I haven't been able to see how it plays out in practice yet. However it seems to be written with a strong emphasis on building more and faster (it is in the name after all) which is quite encouraging. I'll be keeping an eye out to see if it helps.