The new rules governing construction in Prague will go into effect on August 1. Developers in the Prague capital are welcoming the news, because with the old regulations having been cancelled and general uncertainty over the new ones, it had become virtually impossible to move forward on projects. At the same time, however, they warn that the new rules will increase the time and complexity of getting a construction permit. The daily Hospodářské noviny reports that the Chamber of Certified Construction Engineers (ČKAIT) has warned that the new regulations will reduce safety and quality regulations. The chamber’s chairman Ladislav Bukovský claims many of the changes represent concessions to the development lobby. “They made it easier for developers so that buildings were as cheap as possible to build,” he claims.
