Dostálová: The construction law is already purely a political matter

Prague – The new building law being discussed in the Chamber of Deputies is now purely a political matter, which is problematic. If it is not approved, its adoption would be postponed by at least four years. This is what the Minister for Regional Development Klára Dostálová (for ANO) stated in an interview with ČTK. She considers disputes over whether building authorities should remain with municipalities to be nonsensical. According to her, construction proceedings are already a competence of the state in delegated powers.

"I don't understand why right-wing parties would not want to build. Some things discussed in the Chamber I sometimes completely fail to comprehend. If politics gets involved in the building law, that is wrong. But it has gotten there, and now it is no longer about anything else. It's not about whether Tonda or Pavel wins. We need to build here," the minister said.

As she further stated, if the law is not approved in this electoral term, it would have to be created anew in the next term. "I believe that freezing the building law in its current form for at least another four years would be a significant sin. We are this far along. So I will again urge the opposition to communicate with us. But getting stuck on the institutional model is completely nonsensical," she added.

The institutional model is apparently the subject of the most significant discussions. Last January, Dostálová came to a compromise with the Association of Towns and Municipalities, which withdrew from a purely state-controlled building administration. The law was supposed to keep building authorities at the municipal level. It also went to the Chamber in this form. However, a comprehensive amendment from the Chamber's Economic Committee again considers transferring all building authorities under the state.

"It needs to be said that the association did not give a positive opinion even after that compromise. You just have to shake your head. Because we made significant concessions. But it is true that even the legislative council of the government pointed out that it is in a way hybrid and that a pure building administration would be better. The council also said that it is a political decision. And if the Chamber views it differently, there’s nothing to be done. The Chamber is sovereign," Dostálová stated. She does not regret last year's compromise in hindsight. "We needed peace to work, and that constant bombardment in the media would not have helped at all," she pointed out.

According to her, municipalities still do not have construction proceedings within their powers. It is a competence of the state in delegated powers. "Experts say that it is a significant problem if self-governance approves projects for itself. Today, people at building authorities are employees of the municipalities. But the mayor should not step inside. Once they cross the threshold of the office, it must be noted in the record. Now, state should employ the clerks. And the mayor will have a legitimate way to come in and say what they need. And they won’t behave unlawfully," the minister added.

She also pointed out that the law proposes extending the deadline for a new zoning plan in Prague until 2025. "If no version of the building law passes, the deadline ends at the beginning of next year. And then construction will only be possible according to the developable land from 1966. So, for example, in Prague 11, you won’t be able to even build a woodshed," Dostálová added.

The opinions of professional associations and authorities on the proposed form of the law vary. For its adoption, for example, the Chamber of Commerce of the Czech Republic, the Association of Industry and Transport, and the Developers' Association are in favor. There are objections from the Ministry of Culture, the Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers Active in Construction, and the Czech Chamber of Architects. The Association of Towns and Municipalities even suggested withdrawing the law from consideration.

The main principles of the law are supposed to be one procedure before one building authority and the incorporation of the affected bodies into building authorities, so the builder will not have to gather the necessary opinions alone. The law also introduces fixed deadlines, measures against inactivity, or an appeals principle, whereby the superior authority will no longer return the matter for new consideration.