The Ministry of Regional Development (“MMR”) has submitted Draft Amendment No. 2 to the Spatial Development Plan (“ÚRP”), which redefines the so-called acceleration zones for renewable energy sources (“RES”) within the meaning of Act No. 249/2025 Coll., on accelerating the use of certain renewable energy sources (“ZOZE”).[1] Draft Amendment No. 2 to the ÚRP is currently in the preparation phase prior to its public consultation, which is scheduled to take place on 15 May 2026.[2]

Acceleration zones are areas where, from the perspective of the national spatial planning concept, the siting of RES projects is preferred.[3] Their main benefit is a significant acceleration of the permitting processes, based on the fact that key environmental issues are addressed at the very stage of their designation.

How the fast-track permitting regime works

The permitting of RES projects in acceleration zones takes place under a simplified regime in accordance with the RES Act, the core of which is:

• The consolidation of environmental assessment into a single environmental opinion (JES) – instead of multiple separate processes, a single integrated output is produced;
• Limiting the need for an EIA – if the authority does not decide within the statutory time limit (typically 45 days), the project is deemed not to be subject to assessment;
• Short deadlines – the JES is usually issued within 30–60 days (without an EIA), or within 6 months (with an EIA);
• Shortened follow-up permitting procedure – the building authority usually decides within 60 days.

The entire mechanism is thus based on the principle that significant environmental impacts are ‘brought forward’ to the level of defining acceleration zones, whilst for specific projects, compliance is primarily verified against conditions pre-determined in the ÚRP.

What is required for the adoption of Amendment No. 2 to the Spatial Development Plan

Draft Amendment No. 2 to the Spatial Development Plan must undergo the standard process for the preparation of spatial planning documentation, a key part of which is the public consultation, during which the public may submit comments, either in writing or electronically, to the Ministry of Regional Development by 1 June 2026 at the latest.

The Ministry of Regional Development must then address these comments and objections and prepare the final version of Draft Amendment No. 2 to the Spatial Development Plan, which will be approved by the Government of the Czech Republic.

It is crucial in this regard that the content of the Spatial Development Plan will be binding for subsequent spatial planning documentation. Following the adoption of Draft Amendment No. 2 to the Spatial Development Plan, it will therefore not be necessary to wait for changes to the local spatial plan at the site of the renewable energy project.

We will keep you informed about the next steps in the implementation of the acceleration zones.

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[1]     Further information and the text of the proposal itself are available here: https://mmr.gov.cz/cs/ministerstvo/stavebni-pravo/koncepce-a-strategie/uzemni-rozvojovy-plan/zmena-c-2-uzemniho-rozvojoveho-planu-a-souvisejici.

[2]     A public consultation for local authorities and the public will take place on 15 May 2026 from 10:00 at the following address: Community Hall – Radiopalác, Vinohradská 1789/40, 120 00 Prague 2.

[3]     In this case, we are referring to photovoltaic and wind power stations.

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