Babiš and Dostálová will negotiate with the association of cities about the construction law

Prague - Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) and Minister for Regional Development Klára Dostálová (for ANO) will meet this morning at the government office with the chairman of the Union of Towns and Municipalities, František Lukl, to discuss the proposed construction law. The Union labeled the regulation as so bad that a completely new proposal needs to be developed.

According to the Ministry for Regional Development, the new law aims to accelerate and simplify the approval of construction projects. The approval process for constructions should be shortened from the current average of 5.4 years to one year, with the regulation expected to be in effect from mid-2023. Lukl particularly criticized the planned transfer of officials dealing with construction affairs from municipalities to the state.

Others also have objections to the proposed legislation. The Ministry of the Interior warned of a potential blockage of the construction process for up to a year and a half due to the transfer of the agenda. Large cities expressed concerns about the ability to influence urban planning. The amendment is also criticized by conservationists and firefighters. According to the Prime Minister, a new construction law is necessary to accelerate the permitting process, which is among the slowest in the world in the Czech Republic. He also called on the opposition to collaborate with the government on the amendment to the construction law.