Kutná Hora has called on the Plumbers to discuss the amendment to the building act

Kutná Hora - The leadership of Kutná Hora has called on Minister of Culture Oto Klempíř (for Motorists) to discuss the upcoming amendment to the building act. According to the city, it could significantly weaken the protection of monuments. City representatives are requesting a standard comment procedure and in an open letter urged the minister to meet with the participation of heritage experts, local authorities, and professionals in Kutná Hora, Jana Adamová, spokesperson for the city hall, informed ČTK today. ČTK is seeking a response from the Ministry of Culture.

The planned abolition of protective zones around heritage reservations and areas, including those listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, is causing the most concern according to the city hall. "In recent years, Kutná Hora has faced increasing pressure from some investors who are waiting for a possible weakening of regulations in order to implement projects without respect for the city's historical legacy. Weakening monument protection would significantly intensify this pressure, and together we would lose effective tools to protect our urban and architectural values," said Mayor Lukáš Seifert (ODS).

The historic center of Kutná Hora is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Last year, the city celebrated the 30th anniversary of its inscription on this list.

According to the city leadership, this is not just about technical adjustments to legislation, but a systemic intervention with possible impacts on the historical centers of cities and the international credibility of the Czech Republic. It points out that protective zones safeguard panoramas, long-distance views, and urban relationships that are key to the authenticity and integrity of the monument. Their abolition, according to representatives of Kutná Hora, would mean a weakening of the protection of values on which the long-term development of the city is based.

The city also criticizes the proposal to abolish mandatory opinions of heritage care authorities in heritage zones. In practice, this could lead to irreversible interventions in facades, roofs, or historical details without effective professional oversight. Another issue is the limitation of the role of heritage experts to just the initial phase of the proceedings, when it is still not possible to assess all the impacts of construction work.

On January 30 of this year, the Chamber of Deputies supported in the initial round the government coalition's proposal for the creation of a central building authority under the state office. The amendment to the building act primarily establishes the Office for the Development of Territorial Areas of the Czech Republic. Building officials who currently perform building administration under regions and municipalities will transition to this office. The amendment also declares mass residential buildings as a public interest, which could facilitate the expropriation of land. Overall, the proposal aims to accelerate and simplify the approval of construction projects.