Czech govt. to discuss Building Act, aimed at streamlining permit process

The government is due to discuss the proposed new Building Act on Monday aimed at simplifying and accelerating the process of obtaining construction permits, in large part to aleviate the chronic housing shortage.

Minister for Regional Development Klára Dostálová (for ANO) told the state agency ČTK that the ministry has received more than 5,000 comments on the original version of the law, many of which aim at increasing clarity.

Dostálová has said the ministry aims to cut the average time for obtaining building permits from 5.4 years to 1 yearfor larger projects. Doing so will require, among other things setting fixed deadlines for responding to applications.