“There must be political will and every minister, politician and mayor must work every day to improve housing conditions in Bulgaria.“
This was said by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Nikolay Naydenov. He participated in the National Forum “A Decent Home, a Secure Future: Housing Conditions as a Key Factor for the Rights of the Child.“
According to Naydenov, after millions are being spent on renovating residential buildings, it is absurd in discussion forums “to comment on whether there is mold, a window, or a roof at all where some children in Bulgaria live.“
“Something that depends on the MRDPW to improve housing conditions in the country is the adoption of a National Housing Policy Strategy“, the minister emphasized. He explained that such a strategy was prepared years ago, but currently there is no actual one in effect. Therefore, the Minister undertook to take the necessary actions to prepare a strategy and accelerate the procedures for its adoption.
According to Naydenov, with the National Housing Strategy, the state will provide a framework for improving living conditions, and real actions depend entirely on the will of local self-government.
In front of the participants in the forum, the regional minister outlined the main stages for finding a legal way to solve the conditions in which Roma live, namely: using territories designated for low-rise housing construction in the General Development Plan (GDP) of a municipality; if there are none in the existing ones - to adopt a decision of the relevant municipal council to amend the GDP; based on it - preparation of a Detailed Development Plan (DDP) with reduced indicators and norms and then design of buildings.
„In parallel with the procedure for preparing a DDP, the issue of property rights to the land or the right to build must also be resolved“, explained Nikolay Naydenov. And he added that in this way everything will be implemented legally, because no construction - neither a building, nor the relevant power line and water supply can be legal if this path is not taken.
„In reality, this is the only way to legally improve the situation everywhere“, emphasized the minister and was categorical that there is no point in changing laws or design norms.
„Design norms apply to a residential building equally to all citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria. And currently there is an opportunity for social housing to reduce these norms and the law allows it. "We just have to start working," concluded Naydenov.