The authorities are concerned about the new building law, and the introduction of digitalization is being criticized

Publisher
ČTK
01.07.2024 08:55

Prague – Today, a new construction law and its associated digitalization of the construction process came into effect. Its goal is to accelerate and simplify the approval processes. However, it raises concerns among officials and construction professionals. The implementation of digitalization has faced complications. The contract for introducing part of the system was canceled several times, training for officials was set up hastily and was incomplete, and authorities received inadequate technology. The Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization and the Minister for Regional Development, Ivan Bartoš (Pirates), told ČTK earlier that the introduction of the new construction law and the digitalization of the construction process will likely encounter initial difficulties.

The new construction law took effect for some larger reserved projects such as highways on January 1 of this year, but it will now also apply to land constructions, including residential and family houses or offices. It will, for example, introduce a single construction procedure, thus abolishing the dual approval of land use and construction permits. In the end, there should be a single stamp for the builder, and deadlines for issuing permits will also be established. The construction process will be digitalized for all participants via the Builder's Portal and other information systems.

Statements from representatives of the authorities approached by ČTK indicate that due to the July amendment to the construction law, which among other things raises fees for certain constructions, construction authorities in the Czech Republic are now receiving significantly more applications than usual, and the number of phone inquiries is increasing. Alongside builders' concerns, officials are also worried about whether the new system will function, as full access to the new system is not yet available.

The process of implementing the law has been criticized not only by experts and builders but also by some politicians. In addition to opposition politicians, including former Minister for Regional Development Klára Dostálová (ANO), members of the KDU-ČSL from the governing coalition have recently joined the criticism. MP Jan Bartošek has notably opposed the implementation on social media, and party leader Marian Jurečka has also voiced criticism. According to President Petr Pavel, digitalization should also be postponed as it would save citizens and businesses from inconveniences.

Bartoš expects probable difficulties at the beginning, but otherwise does not find concerns justified. According to him, it is necessary to catch up quickly with what should have been done years ago. Since the end of May, 390 institutions have registered for training in the information system of the construction process. Subsequently, according to Bartoš, it depends on the individual authorities and the officials themselves in what capacity they participated in the training and how much time they invested in it.

Criticism of the digitalized construction process has also been voiced by associations, chambers of commerce, and organizations. However, experts approached by ČTK in April generally viewed the digitalization of the construction process positively. They considered the interface to be simple and intuitive; however, they also stated that it is not yet possible to say whether the system will contribute to accelerating the approval processes.

The authorities are concerned about the new building law, and the introduction of digitalization is being criticized

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