The Most Important and Essential Change in the Spatial Development Act is That it Removes the Possibility for Legalizing Illegal Construction, Regional Development Minister Tserovski says

“The most important and essential amendment in the Spatial Development Act is that it removes the possibilities for legalizing illegal construction,” Regional Development and Public Works Minister Valentin Tserovski told a news conference held to made public the changes in the law and relevant bylaws. “It can be described as a radical decision which required strong political will,” he added. At the news conference were also the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Savin Kovachev, the director of the National Construction Control Directorate Ivan Simidchiev, and Mityo Videlov, director of the Directorate for Complex Analyses, Expert Assessment and Forecasts, with the Regional Development and Public Works Ministry. The provisions and procedure of the old law will apply for cases of illegal construction before 26 July 2003. The law sets a 6-month grace period after the law becomes effective, for legalizing illegal construction. After 26 January next year all illegal buildings will be subject to demolition. Three ordinance with the Spation Development Act are ready now. An ordinance on the six classes of construction projects, on the certification of completed construction projects and on the acts and protocols issued throughout the construction, are expected to be published in the State Gazette. An ordinance on licensing of consultants is close to finalization, another one on obligatory insurance is being prepares and more are being updated. In nine days, the Regional Development and Public Works Ministry prepared four of the bylaws going with the Spatial Development Act, said Deputy Regional Development Minister Savin Kovachev. He said that the law caused confusion, mostly among municipal officers, and the Ministry has issued two instructions to facilitate their work in implementing the Spatial Development Act. After 26 July, new buildings will be licensed for use as provided for by the new law. Class IV and Class V buildings are subject to registration requirements. Ongoing procedures for issue of building permit may be completed either by the old or by the new law. One of the important changes in the Spatial Development Act is the introduction of a new player in the construction process – the consultant, said Valentin Tserovski. This will introduce the best European practice and will eliminate the opportunities for corruption of municipal or central government clerks. The licences of construction supervision companies will be valid after the amendments to the Spatial Development Act become effective. Some 700 companies now hold construction supervision licences. The future consultants will have to meet tougher requirements. They will be required to have at least 14 employees on their pay-roll, each with a length of service of five or more years in the specific area. There is also a possibility to introduce a requirement for an ISO certificate as a proof of managerial capacity. Public Relations and International Activity Directorate