Chamber: Compliance of buildings with the zoning plan should be assessed by building authorities

Prague - Whether the completed constructions comply with the zoning plan should be reassessed by municipal building authorities. The Czech Chamber of Architects (ČKA) stated this in a press release. The amendment to the building law, which has been in effect since the beginning of this year, transferred this responsibility to the planning authorities. According to the Chamber, these authorities thus cannot perform their original function, which is to prepare urban planning documentation for cities and municipalities.

"The Czech Chamber of Architects is not indifferent to the current alarming situation that arose after January 1, 2018, when the amendment to the building law regulating the activities of planning authorities came into effect. It transferred the responsibility to assess the compliance of planned projects and constructions with zoning plans from building authorities to planning authorities," the statement reads.

The reason for the legislative change was, according to the Chamber, that some municipal building authorities were not conducting assessments of compliance with the zoning plan to the appropriate extent. This was often due to the excessive complexity of the concept of urban planning in the Czech Republic and the lack of methodological guidance for officials in these matters. "However, the solution definitely should not have been a blanket transfer of the assessment of all constructions, including completely insignificant construction interventions in the area," the ČKA further stated.

Many planning authorities, according to them, are ceasing to fulfill their original mission and function, which is to be the creators of urban planning documentation for cities and municipalities. "For most cities and municipalities, this main activity has literally disappeared under the avalanche of administrative agendas related to their new position in the construction preparation system. The impacts could have immeasurable consequences for the construction of most municipalities and towns. Therefore, it is necessary to find immediate measures that will at least partially alleviate the critical situation," ČKA added.