ČKA: The new government should, for example, establish a planning and development office

Prague - The new government that emerges from the October elections should, according to architects, establish an office for planning and development focused on spatial development policy, concentrate on revising certain parts of the new construction law, and change the approach to supplier selection for public procurement. The Czech Chamber of Architects (ČKA) communicated this in a press release today in response to a query from ČTK.

According to them, politicians should also pay attention to preserving a pleasant environment for future generations and implement comprehensive landscape planning. The basic parameters for caring for the built environment should be summarized in a government document on Architecture and Construction Culture, similar to what is done in other European countries. Through this, politicians should strive for a high-quality and sustainable environment in the Czech Republic.

According to the ČKA, the newly established office for planning and development should fulfill the main strategic priorities of spatial development at the national, supranational, and European levels. The office would collaborate with architects from the Czech Republic and abroad and coordinate the work of ministries and state organizations on legislation and methodologies. It would also manage the awarding of public contracts and the development of investment strategies for the state in the area of construction development.

"One of the main goals of the office for planning and development should be the promotion of a high-quality built environment in the model of many Western European countries, such as the Benelux countries. For ongoing educational and awareness-raising activities in the field of quality built environments, landscape creation, architecture, and design, it would be desirable to initiate a permanent National Center for Architecture, supporting education and training in the spirit of Scandinavian and other countries," stated the ČKA.

Another topic that politicians should focus on according to architects is the revision of the new construction law. It has been in effect since July 1 of last year and, although they argue that it simplified and clarified the discussion of construction proposals, other parts of it do not meet real needs. For instance, local governments currently have little weight in spatial planning and building permits. Rules for construction should be clear, and in the digitalization of construction procedures, which will still be adjusted, innovations should not be hindered.

The Chamber also pointed out that while the law on public procurement prohibits selection based solely on the lowest price offer, in practice, this rule is not applied in cases of small contracts. For selecting a contractor for a construction project or a local authority's spatial plan, a competition with the evaluation of individual proposals or selection based on economic advantage is more appropriate, where besides price, quality or the builder's experience is also considered.

According to architects, increasing the availability of housing would be aided by comprehensive renovations and investments in residential construction. Politicians should not forget about the establishment of ecological infrastructure and the meaningful use of subsidies.