Asociace pro urbanismus a územní plánování České republiky (AUUP ČR)
Czech Republic


ECTP-CEU member since: 1990
Amount of own members: 245
President: Petr DURDIK
Delegate(s): Vít ŘEZÁČ , Filip NOVOSÁD
Contacts: Thákurova 7
CZ – 160 00 PRAHA 6
tel: +420.603.829.311
fax: +420.224.310.185
e-mail : info@urbanismus.cz
Web: www.urbanismus.cz

Annual AUUP reports to ECTP-CEU

Czech Republic’s projects by ECTP-CEU European and Regional Planning Awards presented by AUUP:

2012 – 9th Edition:

• Kuks – Teatrum Mundi
• Uherske Hradiste
• National Park – Sumava

2010 – 8th Edition:

• Pisek – Reconstruction of promenade and regeneration of gothic moats

2008 – 7th Edition:

• Prague – River Tales – project of the urban development of the Rohansky Island Area

Country Factsheet for Czech Republic (.cz)
Amended ECTP-CEU Study Draft (2012-11-21)
General Country Information
Capital City Prague
Population 10,468,000
Area (km2) 78,866
Population Density 133 per km2
EU Membership Czech Republic joined what is now known as the EU in 2004.

Czech Republic is currently divided into thirteen regions and the capital; the country includes the historical territories of Bohemia, Silesia and Moravia and is a Constitutional Republic.

Czech Republic’s Ministry contacts:
(From Ministry’s website)

Ministry of Regional Development CZ :
Staroměstské náměstí 6
110 15 Praha 1
Tel.: +420 224 861 111 (switchboard)
Fax: +420 224 861 333 (downtown)
ID data box: 26iaava
Website : http://www.mmr.cz/en/Homepage

Planning as a Regulated Profession in Czech Republic
The competence on Urban and Space planning is divided between Municipalities (about 6250), Regions, the Ministry of Regional Development, and the Ministry of Defence.

Professional Title:
Autorizovaný architekt – územní plánování (obor A.2), Autorizovaný architekt – krajinářská architektura (obor A.3).

EU Database Status:
The profession of planner in Czech Republic is not included in the EU Database of Regulated Professions.

National Regulation:
Legal instrument on regulated professions: Act no. 360/1992 Coll., on Certified Architects and Certified Engineers and Technicians Active in Construction.
CKA (Česká komora architektů / Czech Chamber of Architects) is authorised by law (no. 360/1992 Coll.) to grant inclusion in a register of professional planners.

Universities with approved trainings in Czech Republic
Specific planning qualification not a prerequisite.
The courses leading to the profession of Town or Spatial Planners are provided by:
• Czech Technical University in Prague: Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Civil Engineering
• Brno University of Technology: Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Civil Engineering
• Technical University of Liberec: Faculty of Architecture
• Technical University of Ostrava: Faculty of Civil Engineering

Example from “ECTP-CEU Draft Stage 2 Study on the Recognition of Planning Qualifications in Europe”.
Master of Architecture and Urbanism, Czech Technical University in Prague’s Faculty of Architecture:
Here it is a two year course with a heavy part on practice and spatial planning aspects, and less on planning theory and techniques.

Town Planning Press of Czech Republic:

1. Urbanismus a územní rozvoj, Ministry of Regional Development (www.uur.cz)
2. ERA 21, www.era21.cz
3. Bulletin ČKA, www.cka.cz
4. Aktuality AUUP ČR, www.urbanismus.cz

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC:

PLANNING LEGISLATION

Main planning legislation
The most important law governing town and country planning and construction authorisation in the Czech Republic is Act no. 183/2006 Coll. on town and country planning and the building code (Building Act), as amended.
From : 1st January 2007
Town and Country Planning Objectives
Town and country planning creates preconditions for construction and sustainable territorial development. Its objective is to achieve general beneficial harmony of public and private priorities in territorial development. Town and country planning with the public interest in mind protects and further develops the natural, cultural, and civic values of land, including the urban, architectural, and archaeological heritage, while protecting the landscape at the same time.
Town and Country Planning Tasks
The main task of town and country planning is to identify and asses the land condition and its values, to determine the territorial development strategy and use and spatial requirements, to examine and asses the required territorial changes, to create conditions for risk reduction with regard to environmental and natural disasters and for the elimination of its impacts, or to specify necessary redevelopment interventions. Another task of town and country planning is to assess the impacts of different concepts on sustainable spatial development.


TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING INSTRUMENTS:

Town and country planning instruments are used to promote the tasks and objectives of town and country planning on a national, regional, and local level. Town and country planning instruments include spatial development policy, planning data and documentation, planning permission and its proceedings, planning measures on building bans and planning measures on redevelopment, pre-emption rights and compensation for alteration within the area.

Spatial Development Policy
Spatial development policy stipulates the Republic’s priorities of town and country planning, determines development areas and axes, and specific areas and corridors of the transport and technical infrastructure of national importance. Spatial development policy is compulsory for the whole territory of the Republic and is approved by the Government. It is binding for procurement and issuance of development principles, plans, regulatory plans, and for decision-making in the area.

Development Principles
Development principles delimit the areas and corridors of supra local importance and determine the requirements for their utilization, plus they coordinate the planning activities of municipalities. Development principles are procured for the whole territory of the administrative region. They are binding for procurement and issuance of the plans, regulatory plans and for decision-making in the area.
Plan
The plan determines the basic concept of the development of the municipality, protection of its values, its areal and spatial arrangement, and arrangement of the landscape. The plan delimits the developed area, areas with development potential and the areas delimited for the alteration of existing development, and determines the conditions for utilization of these areas. The procurement of the plan is not mandatory. If it is procured, it applies to the whole territory of the municipality and it is binding for issuance of the regulatory plan and for decision-making within the area.

Regulatory Plan
The regulatory plan determines the detailed conditions for the use of the grounds and for the location and spatial arrangement of structures (e.g. the street lines and height of structures). The procurement of the regulatory plan is not mandatory. If it is procured, it applies to the given territory of the municipality and it is binding for decision-making within the area.
Planning Analytical Materials
The planning analytical materials contain the ascertainment and assessment of the state and development of the area, its values and limitations, programmes for executing the changes in the area, assessing the area sustainable development, and determination of problems for solution. It is mandatory for all regions and municipalities to procure planning analytical materials. They are not binding, however, they form the basis for the planning documentation. The materials are continuously updated.

Planning Study
The Planning study suggests, examines and considers possible solutions of selected problems or selected parts of the area. Planning studies are procured as needed, for selected parts of the area. They are not binding, however, they form the basis for decision-making.

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING SYSTEM:

The land planning system in the Czech Republic is hierarchical. Higher level planning documentation is binding for the lower level planning documentation. Lower level planning documentation conflicting with subsequently commissioned higher level documentation shall not apply. Generally, the higher level planning documentation should not include details concerning issues that belong to the lower level, which involves more detailed documentation. The scope of competence of different planning authorities is hierarchical as well – from the ministries to the regional and local authorities.

COMPETENT BODIES:

• Ministry of Regional Development (provide the spatial development policy and methodical support)
• Ministry of Defence (planning in army areas)
• Regional Government Authorities (provide protection and value development of a region)
• Municipal Authorities (provide protection and value development of the municipal territory; submitted to the regional documents)

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND COMMUNICATION

Participants in Planning
The planning process involves politicians (they initiate the procurement of planning documentation and decide on its approval), officials (e.g. municipal offices with extended powers procure plans and relevant authorities comment on them) and designers (who process the documentation). Processing of planning documentation or of planning permission documentation or project documentation as well as professional construction supervision will only be carried out by authorized individuals.
The process of issuance of binding planning documentation involves the engagement of the general public (citizens and civil society organizations). Real estate owners may present objections to the draft documentation and anyone may present their comments.
All comments and objections must be addressed. The general public is in some cases actively engaged in the creation of planning documentation.

TOWN PLANNING MATTERS:

Only authorised planners are entitled to elaborate plans.
Considered as a part of the architectural profession, the Czech Chamber of Architects (CKA) and the Czech Chamber of Civil Engineers (CKAIT) are authorized by law to grant inclusion in a register of professional planners. An architecture or civil engineering degree is required.

Websites

MMR, Ministry of Regional Development of Czech Republic:
http://www.mmr.cz/en/Homepage

UUR, Institute for Spatial Development (Ústav územního rozvoje):
http://www.uur.cz/ 

AUUP ČR, Association for Urban and Regional Planning of the Czech Republic:
www.urbanismus.cz 

ČKA, Czech Chamber of Architects:
www.cka.cz