Wohnungsbau in Augsburg: Baufertigstellungen und Bauüberhang zum Jahresende 2024

The report “Wohnungsbau in Augsburg: Baufertigstellungen und Bauüberhang zum Jahresende 2024” is published by the Stadt Augsburg – Amt für Statistik und Stadtforschung. The office is responsible for collecting and analysing municipal statistics, including building and housing data. Its work provides a reliable basis for urban planning and policy making across Germany and, by extension, for pan‑European audiences interested in sustainable urban development.

In 2024 Augsburg recorded 1 075 newly completed apartments across 149 buildings, of which 1 075 units were finished in the year. The city also managed 2 186 approved but not yet completed new dwellings, generating a substantial “construction backlog” (Bauüberhang). Overall, 1 625 building permits were active at year‑end, split between 648 new builds (39.9 %) and 929 renovation projects (57.2 %). Of the new‑build permits, 313 projects (≈ 15 % of total permits) had not yet started construction, while 186 projects (≈ 11 %) were already under way.

The largest concentrations of new apartments are found in the districts of Lechhausen‑Ost (560 units), Kriegshaber (520), Bahnhofs‑ and Bismarckviertel (513) and Pfersee‑Nord (416). The Bahnhofs‑ and Bismarckviertel district leads in completed units, with 430 finished apartments, 70 still under construction and 13 approved but not begun. Lechhausen‑Ost shows two‑thirds of its planned units under construction, 10 % completed and about a quarter still pending. Several districts, such as Georgs‑ and Kreuzviertel and Siebenbrunn, reported no building activity in 2024.

Beyond new construction, 929 renovation permits were active, targeting 600 additional apartments. Approximately half of these renovation projects (48.5 %) had not yet started, while a third (31.8 %) were in progress. Renovations contributed to 5 % of the total new housing completions in 2024. The data also include 48 usage‑change permits (e.g., conversion of non‑residential space to housing), of which 20 were still pending, 19 under construction and 9 completed.

The report highlights a steady increase in the construction backlog since 2017, indicating a growing demand for housing that outpaces completion rates. The predominance of small‑scale apartments—particularly one‑ and two‑room units—suggests a focus on efficient, high‑density living, which aligns with sustainable urban principles. Moreover, the substantial share of renovation work points to a strategy of extending the life of existing building stock, reducing the need for new material extraction and associated carbon emissions.

From 2012 to 2024, the number of approved new‑build apartments fluctuated between 832 (2016) and 1 958 (2023). Annual completions have consistently ranged between 1 000 and 1 500 units. The “construction backlog” has risen almost continuously since 2017, reaching 2 186 pending apartments in 2024. Non‑executed permits remained low for new builds (≈ 50 units per year) but showed a modest increase for renovation projects, signalling a shift toward retrofitting older structures.

In the 149 new buildings completed in 2024, 1 349 residents were registered by year‑end, with 48.9 % already living in Augsburg and 13 newborns recorded. The majority of new occupants (≈ 60‑70 %) are single‑person or couple households without children, reflecting a trend toward smaller household sizes and a need for compact, affordable housing solutions.

Augsburg’s experience illustrates broader European challenges: balancing rapid urban population growth with sustainable construction practices, managing a growing backlog of approved projects, and leveraging renovation to extend building lifespans. The city’s detailed district‑level data provide a model for other municipalities seeking granular insight into housing supply dynamics and the effectiveness of policy measures aimed at sustainable urban development.