Czech building law amendment threatens heritage protection and permits

A group of scholars and heritage experts from several Czech universities sent an open letter to members of the Chamber of Deputies urging them to reject the proposed amendment to the building law. They argue the draft would dramatically weaken the heritage protection system by stripping the National Heritage Institute of its authority to independently assess interventions in protected areas, including sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage. As one signatory put it, "This proposal denies the very purpose of designating heritage protected zones."

Environmental NGO Arnika also warned that the amendment could cause a collapse of the building‑permit system. It predicts that, for almost two years, three parallel permitting regimes would operate, creating legal uncertainty and staffing problems. Arnika stresses that ongoing cases would have to be restarted under new rules, further delaying projects and undermining public‑interest safeguards.