State Urban Development Committee Chairman reports progress in ongoing activities and investment programs

During a working meeting held with the President of the Republic of Armenia, Chairman of State Committee for Urban Development Narek Sargsyan briefed the President on the activities implemented in the field of urban development in 2016-2017, dwelling on the problems and the steps to address them, as well as on the ongoing and planned activities.

The Committee Chairman first reported on the activities aimed at simplifying the procedures and regulations applicable to urban development, facilitating the issuance of electronic permits and the provision of necessary documentation to local communities (account taken of community enlargement), the development and introduction of new technologies in construction, the licensing of urban development activities and the mandatory requirements applicable to the specialists involved in the process of town planning and urban development.

While introducing the efforts towards improving the legislative and normative framework, Narek Sargsyan spoke about the updated pricing methodology and the formulation of principles for producing cost estimates, the elaboration and modernization of urban development-related normative documents, the minimization of seismic risks for existing buildings and facilities, the development of a seismic resistance and reliability strategy, as well as the maintenance and operation of the multi-storied housing estate.

Narek Sargsyan presented an overview of Committee’s initiatives aimed at addressing a number of issues, in particular, establishing mandatory requirements to ensure harmonious architectural appearance of urban and rural settlements, implementing the program of completion of State-run and community-owned semi-constructed buildings in the Marzes, the enforcement of regulations applicable to unfinished facilities in areas adjacent to the roads of interstate and national significance and the criteria for inclusion of specific buildings and facilities in the annual State budget of the Republic of Armenia.

Information was also provided on the status of Committee-coordinated programs, including in particular the State-supported housing programs, the program for providing affordable housing to public servants, as well as on other activities and issues under the Committee’s jurisdiction. Highlighted was the work on the development of educational, cultural and sport infrastructures.

In the context of creating a favorable environment for investments in the field of urban development and providing incentives for developers, the President stressed the importance of Committee-coordinated investment projects in both Yerevan and individual communities subject to special regulations, including the following investment programs: the Old Yerevan project, which kicked off a few days ago in accordance with a presidential assignment, the construction of the 33rd district in Yerevan, several projects underway in Gyumri, Jermuk, Tsaghkadzor and Dilijan, the investment project of Noy Ethnographic District in Yerevan, large-scale construction projects implemented at the expense of public and private funds and the formulation of new urban development approaches in separate sections of Sevan national park.

The President instructed to continue making consistent efforts towards facilitating the issuance of construction permits and build on the comparative advantages achieved in the aforementioned areas.

Narek Sargsyan was told to keep in focus the programs implemented by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development in communities subject to special urban development regulations, including the ones envisaged primarily for Gyumri, Vanadzor, Jermuk, Dilijan and Tsaghkadzor.