According to the proposal of the new building law, the state should demolish illegal constructions

Plzeň - The state would remove illegal constructions from small cottages to large halls at its own expense according to the proposal of the new construction law, and then it would recover the costs from the undisciplined investor. Klára Dostálová (ANO), the Minister for Regional Development, said this today in Plzeň. According to her, municipalities do not have the money or manpower for the demolition of primarily larger structures, nor the means for court disputes. Every tenth construction started in the Czech Republic is done illegally, she claimed. If the state starts removing large illegal constructions, the situation will improve, she anticipates.

Deputy Mayor of Plzeň Pavel Šindelář (ODS) welcomed this approach. The obligation to remove illegal constructions currently falls on municipalities with extended powers. However, mayors often lack funds for demolitions when repairing infrastructure. Therefore, municipalities often retroactively permit the construction.

"By taking this over, the state administration will ensure that whoever starts illegally will have their construction uncompromisingly removed," said the minister. The city will report the newly created state building authority of the region, which will ensure the enforcement of decision-making. After the law is passed, the state would be able to demolish unauthorized buildings that begin construction after its effectiveness, which is expected to be from 2021.

Plzeň has been marred for years by a devastated seven-story building of the former Carimex car showroom and offices, the largest illegal construction in the city, which has not been able to be removed for about 20 years on the main route from Prague, Rokycanská street.

According to Šindelář, currently, the building office usually initiates proceedings for the removal of a building, and the investor requests additional permission. The removal proceedings are then halted until a decision is made on the additional permission.

"In our case (Carimex), lawsuits also come into play. Ultimately, it ends up that you have a construction near the center that is a long-term disgrace for Plzeň," he stated. He added that ownership lawsuits regarding the showroom have been resolved after years, with the land still belonging to the city. "The proceedings for the additional construction permit should also be resolved, and then the proceedings for the removal of the building will be initiated," he stated. This will concern several extensions and the upper three floors that were built without permission.

"I cannot technically imagine the city removing part of a structure at its own expense, with the prospect that it would never recover the costs," he said. Enforcement proceedings continue, so the property could change ownership after enforcement.