Brno criticizes the approval of the amendment to the energy law, demands rectification

photo: https://anobrno.cz/

Brno - The leadership of Brno criticizes the Tuesday approval of the amendment to the Energy Act in the Chamber of Deputies, which, according to them, among other things, restricts the powers of local councils to influence municipal construction regulations. The proposal, dubbed Lex OZE III, will now be evaluated by the president. According to the Brno municipality, the change will lower the quality of life in the future, as it may have a fundamental negative impact on urban planning, public spaces, and greenery. The municipality stated this today in a press release. Brno, along with other councils and professional organizations, calls for rectification. The amendment to the construction regulations also affects Prague and Ostrava.

After the law change takes effect, the municipalities will lose, according to the municipality, a key tool for coordinating urban space, from arranging elements of technical infrastructure in public spaces and below the surface to the placement and planting of new rows of trees.

"Brno was not informed in advance about this restriction, even though it is a fundamental intervention in municipal powers. Furthermore, this proposal was pushed through as an attachment, thus without broad professional and public discussion. The result may be that our streets will not have enough shade from mature trees and public space will be shaped purely by technical infrastructure instead of urban principles," stated Mayor Markéta Vaňková (ODS).

According to councilor Petr Bořecký (ANO), the change directly contradicts the new construction law. "It clearly states that green infrastructure must be on the same level as transportation and technical infrastructure. The Senate unanimously rejected this issue and adopted an amendment that removed the harmful attachment, which the deputies did not reflect on yesterday (Tuesday). We are therefore working to ensure that an appropriate amendment is adopted as part of the follow-up amendment to the Energy Act (LEX OZE 4). The time to resolve this is running short, as the approved amendment is set to take effect in five months from the issuance of the law," he said.

Brno's construction regulations have been in effect since last July and bind all builders, designers, and offices involved in the permitting process. The document was prepared by the Office of the City Architect (KAM) of Brno in cooperation with the municipality. "The protection of public space and the possibility of coordinating technical, transportation, and green infrastructure should remain within the competence of cities, which know their environment best," added KAM director Jan Tesárek.