Pavel warns new state building authority could slow permitting

President Petr Pavel (independent) has warned that plans to create a central state building authority could make construction permitting slower rather than faster. The lower house approved a government amendment on Friday aimed at simplifying the process by bringing permitting under a single authority. Pavel said it was unrealistic to expect all of the roughly 7,000 officials currently involved in building procedures to join the new system. An understaffed authority could significantly prolong the process, he warned. Czechia currently has 638 building offices; the reform envisages 205 regional branches and 14 regional development offices.