Flemish Government Proposes Doubling Fees for Appeals Against Building Permits

Summary:

The Flemish government, led by Environment Minister Jo Brouns (CD&V), plans to significantly increase the fees for citizens wishing to appeal against approved building permits. Currently set at €200, the fee is proposed to rise to between €400 and €500. This move aims to deter misuse of the appeal process and expedite permit procedures.

Brouns emphasizes that the increase is intended to signal that only serious appeals should be filed, while still allowing individuals to challenge permits if they experience genuine personal harm. The government acknowledges that processing such appeals can cost society around €5,000 per case, highlighting the disparity between the appeal costs and the societal expenses involved.

Despite the anticipated revenue of only €1 million from this measure, it is viewed as a step towards a more streamlined permitting process, a key promise of the Flemish government. The complexity and lengthy nature of obtaining permits have been problematic for developers, compounded by the ability of various stakeholders to contest permits, leading to protracted legal battles.

Additionally, the Flemish government aims to simplify and accelerate permitting procedures, although previous attempts have faced setbacks from the Constitutional Court. Recent rulings have mandated that provinces will now review local permit applications to prevent conflicts of interest, ensuring that municipal construction projects can proceed without interruption.