The new government wants to change the building code and approve it quickly, Havlíček confirmed

Prague – The future government of ANO, SPD, and Motorists plans to change the building law and incorporate elements of centralized construction management into it. The new version of the building law is already completed and will be presented to a small circle of experts on Thursday. The government aims to approve the legislation under expedited procedures. This was confirmed by the Vice-Chairman of the ANO movement, Karel Havlíček, at the Leaders in Development conference. He believes that the new building law will come into effect on January 1, 2027. ANO discussed the planned change to the building law even before the elections, and Havlíček previously stated that it would return to the form of the proposal from 2021. For example, he established the Supreme Building Authority.

According to Havlíček, the essence of the centralized building authority will be reflected in the new version of the law. "It may not be perfect in every respect, but we will adjust that as the law functions. However, we must start it to avoid any further delays," said Havlíček. He believes that a reform of spatial planning must follow the new version of the building law, and upon completion of the legislation, also the digitalization of construction management.

According to the Vice-Chairman of ANO, the Transport and Energy Building Authority (DESÚ) will play a significant role, tasked with approving the construction of major transport and energy infrastructure elements, such as highways, railways, and large power plants. Some residential buildings would be transferred under the strategic projects of the state, and subsequently, DESÚ could approve them in an expedited process.

The building law, spatial planning, and digitalization of construction management fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry for Regional Development (MMR). The ANO movement wanted to abolish it before the elections and merge part of its agenda with other ministries into a Ministry of Economy. However, according to Havlíček, shifting the MMR agenda at a time when a new building law would be prepared would lead to destabilization.

"We would like to finalize the Ministry of Economy, however, regarding MMR, in the first phase we want it to focus on its homework. The homework is the new building law, spatial planning, and digitalization. Taking that into account, we have work for at least two, possibly three years to realize all of this," stated Havlíček. Although, according to him, there are plans to create the Ministry of Economy, in the first phase of governance, it is necessary first to complete certain tasks and not jeopardize them.

The upcoming government coalition mentions the change of the building law in its program statement. According to it, it plans to establish housing as a public interest, support young families with preferential loans for housing acquisition, and revise the housing support law. It also wants to limit some energy standards and ecological requirements for construction. A system of preferential tax deductions for the construction of service and company apartments for employees is to be prepared. According to them, state guarantees for cooperatives and investment incentives for cooperative housing investments are to be established. The private sector should be more involved in construction, including collaborating on the establishment of new dormitories for students.