MINSK, 3 August (BelTA) - Belarus has developed a draft code on architecture, urban planning and construction activities, Belarus' Architecture and Construction Minister Ruslan Parkhamovich told a press conference held on 2 August to discuss Belarus' architectural and construction industry performance in H1 2021 and prospects of the country's construction industry, BelTA has learned.
“The work on the document is almost finished. The draft code is now under consideration in the government. I think it will be adopted in the nearest future,” said Ruslan Parkhamovich.
According to him, the ministry is constantly working to improve the legislation on housing construction. It has worked out a document to amend some of the decrees regulating housing subsidies. “Certain changes have been made in respect of the procedure and conditions for the provision of subsidies to large families and those in need, as well as to agricultural organizations,” the minister added.
The Construction and Architecture Ministry is also busy liberalizing construction requirements. “Today, the country has 60 building norms and also about 250 other documents that are mandatory in the design and construction, but which were not developed by us. These are sanitary norms and regulations and some documents of the Emergencies Ministry and the Energy Ministry. We are currently collecting and analyzing information to keep all regulations relating to the design and construction within our ministry,” he explained.
The minister said that the issue of liberalizing urban planning activities is under consideration at present. “We are considering a possibility of simplifying approaches to or removing documentation such as as a detailed plan. This work is still in an active stage,” said Ruslan Parkhamovich.
One important aspect of the ministry's current work is revision of attestation requirements for admission to construction activities. “We plan to introduce mandatory certification for customers to increase their responsibility, and also timeliness and quality of construction,” he stressed.
There will also be adjustments on attestation of general contractors and general designers. “The requirements will be tightened. This is done to reduce the number of unfinished projects, as well as those in various stages of readiness, which, unfortunately, are not implemented as originally planned,” the minister added.
