The government today approved an amendment to the building law

Prague - The government today approved an amendment to the building law. The information was provided to journalists by the Minister for Regional Development (MMR) Karla Šlechtová (for ANO). The amendment aims to simplify the approval process by allowing the merging of currently separate territorial proceedings, building proceedings, and environmental impact assessments (EIA). Compared to the original proposal, the Prague building regulations have been reinstated. Changes made to the building law are expected to be reflected in another 44 related legal regulations. The amendment is expected to come into effect from the middle of next year.

"There were some adjustments, we voted on about seven disputes between the Ministry of the Environment and other ministries. In our proposal, we sought to include all water works in the coordinated proceedings. The government approved that they would only be included for some types of buildings. However, it will ultimately have to be decided by the Chamber of Deputies," Šlechtová stated.

The amendment also included the authorization for Prague to issue its own building regulations. "I was the only member of the government who voted against it," the minister revealed.

The most significant change is the merging of the approval process into a single proceeding. The so-called coordinated approval procedure should merge the currently separate territorial proceedings, building proceedings, and environmental impact assessments (EIA). According to the ministry, this is expected to significantly expedite the approval of constructions.

The ministry also hopes that the amendment will relieve small builders. It will, for example, allow self-constructed building for all types of family houses without defining the built-up area. On the plot of a family house or a house intended for recreation, anyone will be able to build a pool or greenhouse solely based on their placement without subsequent approval.

All documents related to spatial planning will be required to be published on the internet, which will allow the public better oversight of the entire process.

The current government had this amendment to the building law in its program declaration. It was originally supposed to come into effect by the middle of this year. Now the MMR is talking about effectiveness from the middle of 2017. "I hope that the government will already support this law as a whole. And that we will ensure it passes while this government is still in mandate. It is a priority for them, so I hope everyone will manage it," Šlechtová added.