HEUKING real estate law partner Dr. Wolfram Sandner contributes to amendments of Baden-Württemberg State Building Code
September, 2024 - Stuttgart, Germany
As member of a distinguished committee of experts, Dr. Wolfram Sandner, real estate law partner at HEUKING’s Stuttgart office, is involved in developing proposals aimed at streamlining and simplifying approval processes through amendments to the Baden-Württemberg state building Code.
The situation is particularly challenging for building owners, who often face long waiting times – sometimes many months – for planning permits, especially for complex projects like shopping centers or office buildings, including any subsequent modifications. In the construction industry, time is literally money: rising costs for materials and labor, along with increasingly stringent financing conditions, make obtaining planning permits swiftly an economic imperative. For some projects that were initially planned during the “old days,” particularly under the previous low-interest environment, extended approval periods can even become a deal-breaker, rendering the entire project unviable.
The committee includes not only prominent figures from Stuttgart’s real estate sector – such as major developers, shopping center operators, national engineering firms, and commercial real estate brokers – but also Dr. Wolfram Sandner, who serves as the sole legal expert. Additionally, key members such as the Stuttgart Economic Development Agency and the head of the city‘s building administration are involved. The goal is that this collaborative effort between the private sector and government will strengthen the impact and persuasiveness of their proposals..
Dr. Sandner is a member of HEUKING’s real estate law team, specializing in public construction law, planning law, and environmental law. For over 25 years, he has advised the private sector across Germany on planning and permit procedures for commercial and residential developments. Additionally, Dr. Sandner has spent more than 15 years advising the Baden-Württemberg state government under five different coalitions, with a particular focus on clean air planning, addressing key issues such as particulate matter and diesel bans. His experience includes representing the state in administrative courts, all the way up to the Federal Administrative Court.
