New powers of environmental organisations: Will they benefit the environment?
On 20 April 2021, the President of Poland signed into law an act amending a number of laws on public participation in proceedings concerning projects likely to have a significant impact on the environment.
It will be more difficult to implement projects requiring an environmental decision
The amendment to the act on environmental impact assessments signed into law by the President of Poland increases the powers of environmental organisations and makes obtaining permits for development projects more time-consuming. It will be possible to stay the execution of a decision on environmental conditions, suspending proceedings on project permits. But the law also provides for certain measures that may limit the negative impact of such rulings on investors.
Five years to invalidate a building permit, even if it was issued before the amendment
On 19 September 2020, an amendment to the Construction Law came into force, making it harder to attack building permits and occupancy permits. Among other things, the parliament decided that a five-year limit should be introduced for declaring a building permit invalid, from the date the decision entered into legal circulation, thus limiting the discretion of the public administration in assessing the validity of the permit. However, Art. 37b of the Construction Law, introducing this limit, has begun to raise doubts among some commentators, which may lead to the perpetuation of what we believe to be an erroneous interpretation of the new provisions and undermine their intended purpose. Therefore, it is necessary to oppose the view that this provision does not apply to decisions issued before the amendment
Acquisition of real estate in Poland by British citizens and undertakings after Brexit
The transition period during which UK citizens and undertakings were generally treated under EU law like citizens and undertakings from EU member states came to an end on 31 December 2020. This raises the question under what conditions British citizens and undertakings may acquire real estate in Poland or shares in companies holding real estate in Poland.
What will be the fate of applications for building permits prepared under the old energy-efficiency standards?
All buildings designed and executed in Poland on or after 31 December 2020 will have to meet stricter standards for consumption of non-renewable primary energy and the U-factor for heat flow. This change implements into the Polish legal system EU regulations adopted in 2010. It might seem investors have had a long time to prepare for the new energy-efficiency standards. But many of them are still waiting for consideration of applications filed under the existing standards, and their applications may not be decided before the more stringent standards enter into force. This raises the question of how those pending applications will be decided.
Illegal use of a structure: Fines ruthlessly pursued
First a warning, then possibly repeated fines on investors and owners for illegal use of structures: this is one of the effects of recent changes in the Construction Law.
A foreigner may have to obtain a permit from the Minister of Interior and Administration to acquire real estate in Poland
The Act on Acquisition of Real Estate by Foreigners of 24 March 1920, which has been in force in Poland continuously for over 100 years, greatly limits the acquisition of real estate in Poland by foreigners, by requiring them to obtain prior consent from the Minister of Interior and Administration. Conclusion of a real estate acquisition agreement without a required permit is subject to the most severe sanction, resulting in invalidity of the transaction. However, the act permits certain departures from the strict requirement of ministerial consent.
A new approach to construction design
The recent amendment to the Construction Law introduces a new element of the construction design: the technical design, which will not be enclosed with the application for a building permit. This will speed up the initial stage of the project.
Narrower set of parties in cases seeking a building permit
A relatively small change in the definition of the impact area of a project in the amendment to the Construction Law which entered into force since 19 September 2020 has resulted in a significant change in the rules for determining the set of parties in cases seeking a building permit.
Transfer of a building permit without the consent of the prior investor
Since 19 September 2020, acquirers of real estate have been able to transfer a building permit to themselves without the consent of the prior investor. Does this change facilitate implementation of development projects by property buyers?
New rules for legalisation of unlawful construction
The amendment to the Construction Law has made life easier for some owners of unlawful structures. Those whose structures were built over 20 years ago can rest easy. So long as their structure is in proper technical condition, they are not threatened with a high legalisation fee or a demolition order. The regulations governing other unpermitted structures have also been simplified and consolidated.
No more legalisation of unlawful construction with a variance from technical construction regulations
Under the amended Construction Law in force from 19 September 2020, in a proceeding seeking legalisation of unlawful construction it will no longer be possible to seek consent to a variance from technical construction regulations, due to the express wording of the new Art. 9(5) of the Construction Law. Investors who had planned to legalise an unpermitted construction while obtaining a variance from technical regulations will not obtain such approval. The same applies to investors who filed a request before 19 September 2020 and were awaiting the minister’s position on the variance.
