MPs vote to amend building law towards speeding up big construction projects

The lower house of Parliament on Thursday approved in a first reading an amendment to the building law drafted by Regional Development Minister Klára Dostálová (ANO) that aims to accelerate approvals on large construction projects.

Currently, it takes an average of five years for can such projects to get all necessary permits and approvals. The government says the aim is to shorten the process by at least a year. Opposition MPs from the Communist and right-wing Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) parties backed the amendment.

Some conservative opposition MPs argued that the amendment should not be under debate during this time of emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Others, including ecologists, warn speeding up the process could undermine environmental impact assessments and safety measures.