Choosing the right construction method in a new development area

So waiting almost 2.5 months longer before being allowed to build. That is a lot of time – especially if you are building somewhere where the time gain is significantly greater. I would also prefer to start in September and have the shell construction done by winter, rather than starting construction only in winter.

Any discussion is useless if the partner follows their own rules. Ultimately, it is also security for them. The OP recognized that correctly. And honestly: which healthy general contractor can start in two weeks? Anyone who employs well-functioning regional subs also needs some lead time.

if the partner follows their own rules.

Yep.

Ultimately, it is also security for them.

No. If the general contractor or whoever sticks to the plan, they don’t need any additional security. Incorrect planning is 100% the problem of the client or the architect.
So what kind of security and for what?

And honestly: which healthy general contractor can start in two weeks? Those who employ well-performing regional subs also need some lead time.

And when does the general contractor start with the building permit? They wait until it is there and then schedule their subs for another 3-4 months. The difference between the notification procedure and the building permit you always have. One can plan in 3 weeks, the other just waits 3-6 months before starting with capacity planning.

P.S. Really big general contractors actually start in two to four weeks – and then build 60,000 sqm straight away. They have all capacities at the subs (and their own people).

Also chose notification.
For me, it was purely cost-driven.

That is not entirely correct, the deviations from the building application are apparently quite significant.

That may be - I read about 35cm. The builders had also informally approved a change proposal.

Anyway, the builders are the ones who suffer - regardless of who is liable. Even if everything turns out financially well and you move into a great house 18 months later, most people don’t want to deal with the hassle. What a waste of life time.

Therefore, I can only warn against making liability the main criterion in such decisions.

You are liable to the municipality. The general contractor is liable to you. What theoretically looks quite simple can grind you down in the sandwich position. In case of doubt, the municipality does not care how long you take to assert your claims. In a district in Bavaria, freshly completed single-family houses are being demolished these weeks because the general contractor built them a few centimeters too high. The case went through all instances and the order is final. What good is liability to you then? You still have the trouble.

However, trouble can always happen to you during house construction regardless of the procedure. In that case, an approved building application would not have helped either.

Current state of knowledge

[*]Building application makes sense if exemptions are necessary
[*]Notification is required if construction is according to the development plan
[*]Approved building application only helps in one case: The city approves an exemption and someone sues against it. Then the city is initially responsible