Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Discusses Housing Construction

The issues of construction and operation of residential buildings, as well as the socio-economic development of Novopolotsk, Orsha and Polotsk districts were on the agenda of the open meeting of the regional executive committee.

Chairman of the regional executive committee Alexander Subbotin designated these topics as extremely important for the Vitebsk region.

"Housing is one of the main indicators of the development of the region, one of the basic values for every person. Therefore, this issue is constantly under the control of both the regional executive committee and the government," Alexander Subbotin emphasized.

According to Belstat, the Vitebsk region is lagging behind in terms of housing construction. What is the reason and how to fix the situation? As the chairman of the Committee on Architecture and Construction Yuri Vyzhikovsky noted, one of the problems common throughout the republic is the shortage of builders.

"At the same time, it should be noted that our region has fulfilled the plans for the total commissioning of housing - by the end of the first half of the year, 137 thousand square meters were commissioned. This is a good indicator, given that the construction industry made a significant contribution to the preparation of the Forum of the Regions of Belarus and Russia. The increased workload to some extent affected the general state of affairs," explained Yuri Vyzhykovsky.

Most of the housing is being built in Vitebsk, Orsha, Polotsk and Novopolotsk, but there are no special delays in the regions either. In addition, today schools are being put in order for the new academic year. According to Yuri Vyzhikovsky, by the end of the year, the builders have the opportunity to catch up and fulfill the plans.

If we talk about the regional center, today housing is being built in different parts of the city. In particular, the existing quarters are being compacted, taking into account the public discussion of residents. Among the main sites are Cheryomushki, Nicropolye. There are plans to build houses in the microdistricts of Tarny, Luchesa. This year it is planned to approve a master plan for the development of Vitebsk, which will outline the prospects for the development of the city.

The head of the department also noted that compared to last year, there is an increase in the commissioning of the total area of residential buildings. Much attention is paid to the provision of housing to large families. This year alone, 320 families have become new settlers and apartments are already being built for 333.

By the way, the level of housing provision for the population of the Vitebsk region is 30.4 square meters per resident, which is higher than in the republic as a whole

Yuri Vyzhikovsky paid special attention to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No 253, which allows commissioning individual residential buildings without permits.

– I believe that not all citizens have this information yet. In addition, the draft Decree on Amendments to Decree No 253 is currently being approved, which provides that local executive and administrative bodies will be able to make decisions on the acceptance of facilities built with a deviation from the norms in terms of compliance with the gaps from the boundaries of the land plot to the erected facilities. All this will be an incentive for people who want to live in their own house," said Yuri Vyzhykovsky.