Developments streamlined

Andalucia has taken a giant step forward in speeding up the processing of urban development projects.

The Junta de Andalucía is taking another step forward in its bid to simplify the enormous administrative procedures faced by numerous urban development projects in the region. A decision which, pending further developments, should have a major impact on the province of Malaga, a major real estate reference point.

Particularly relevant in this context are the changes introduced to lighten environmental authorisations, one of the major bottlenecks facing urban development procedures. The Junta’s move will allow, according to its report, 40 per cent of the environmental authorisations to be resolved in a simplified manner.

Among the most important measures are the updating of the Law on Integrated Environmental Quality Management (GICA), the streamlining of procedures, the adaptation of the entire regulatory framework (including the system of environmental authorisations) and the implementation of a one-stop shop model for environmental procedures.

“With all of this, the processing of metropolitan transport, urban developments and industrial projects will be improved”, a spokesperson for the regional government said, adding that these actions will reduce the time taken to process applications from eight to five months.