Winning the battle for permits and approvals

One of the most challenging tasks facing real estate developers and investors in Central Europe today is winning the battle for their schemes to be approved and permits granted. Experienced developers know that it is not enough for their team to have a comprehensive understanding of local laws and regulations to assure success in obtaining approvals. It is equally important to be prepared in advance to defend against protests from so called 'interested' third parties who can seriously impede the process. The opportunities for 'interested parties' to become roadblocks to real estate projects in Central Europe stem from a number of legal and administrative factors, including: the broad definition of 'interested parties' who are allowed to challenge development permits; the emphasis by administrative authorities on formal, technical requirements, which often form the basis for protests, appeals and other challenges; gaps in legislation