UIPI engages with the European Commission on building permits
As part of the broader Affordable Housing Plan, the European Commission is preparing a new Strategy for Housing Construction. One key issue the Commission is looking at is how building permits affect both new housing development and renovation works. In this context, UIPI has actively contributed to this ongoing work by submitting a paper in response to the Commission’s consultation. UIPI also held a bilateral meeting with the Commission, directly supporting the development of the forthcoming strategy.
Delays in building permit approvals are one of the biggest barriers to delivering more housing in Europe, slowing down construction, increasing costs, and often discourage investment. These challenges don’t just affect new housing developments; they also block much-needed renovation efforts, which are key to improving energy efficiency and meeting the EU’s climate targets.
Recognising this, the Commission’s upcoming strategy aims to tackle the supply-side problems in the construction sector. It will propose actions to improve productivity, competitiveness, and innovation, while also identifying ways to reduce unnecessary red tape. Building permit reform is a central part of this effort.
In response to this, UIPI calls for simpler, faster, and more transparent permitting systems across Europe, but emphasising the need to respect subsidiarity. Simplification should be the guiding principle. Complex or slow permitting procedures hold back both housing supply and renovation and a more efficient system would benefit property owners, residents, and public authorities alike.
To further support this work, a dedicated bilateral meeting was held between UIPI and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW). The aim of the meeting was to discuss permitting-related obstacles in more detail and contribute concrete recommendations to the design of the Strategy for Housing Construction.
