In today's article from the series " Tuesday Mornings for the Construction Industry ," we'd like to introduce you to the procedure for adopting an integrated investment plan (" IIP "), introduced as a special form of local spatial development plan. IIP is regulated by Articles 37ea–37eg of the Spatial Planning and Development Act ("UPZP"). Importantly, the adoption of an IIP requires the parallel conclusion of an urban planning agreement .
What is ZPI?
An integrated investment plan is a new form of planning act that:
- is a special form of local plan,
- is adopted only at the request of the investor , submitted through the commune head, mayor or city president,
- serves to implement a specific investment plan ,
- the entry into force of the integrated investment plan results in the loss of validity of local plans or parts thereof relating to the area covered by this integrated investment plan,
- is intended to enable more efficient implementation of investments, while maintaining compliance with the municipality's spatial policy and the public interest .
Stages of the ZPI adoption procedure
1. Submission of an application by the investor
The Integrated Investment Plan (IIP) procedure begins upon an investor's application, submitted through the commune head, mayor, or city president, which should include a draft integrated investment plan meeting the requirements specified in Art. 15 sec. 1-3 of the Public Spatial Development Plan (UPZP), Art. 16 sec. 1 of the same Act, and regulations issued pursuant to Art. 16 sec. 2 of the Public Spatial Development Plan (UPZP), and should also include an annex containing spatial data, as referred to in Art. 67a sec. 5 of the Public Spatial Development Plan (UPZP). The commune head, mayor, or city president then submits the application to the municipal council, which may consent to the preparation of the IIP .
2. Starting to prepare the plan
If the municipal council has agreed to proceed with the preparation of an integrated investment plan, the commune head, mayor or city president shall, in turn:
1) conducts negotiations with the investor regarding the content of the draft urban planning agreement and the draft integrated investment plan;
2) introduces changes to the draft integrated investment plan, together with justification, prepares an environmental impact forecast, if required, and a draft urban planning agreement, taking into account the outcome of the negotiations referred to in point 1;
3) making the draft integrated investment plan available in the Register together with the justification, the draft urban planning agreement and the environmental impact forecast, if required (the obligation to make it available in the Register comes into force on: 1 July 2026 );
4) at the same time: requests opinions, agreements, consents to change the intended use of agricultural and forest land to non-agricultural and non-forest purposes, if required by separate provisions, and announces, in the manner specified in the Act, the commencement of public consultations and conducts public consultations;
5) concludes an urban planning agreement with the investor (or investors) on behalf of the commune in the form of a notarial deed;
6) presents to the municipal council a draft integrated investment plan constituting an annex to the urban planning agreement.
Until the urban planning agreement is concluded, the commune head, mayor or city president may withdraw from the negotiations, informing the municipal council thereof.
The regulations do not specify a timeframe for adopting a ZPI. This can be a lengthy procedure, depending on the complexity of the plan and the size of the area covered.
3. Urban planning agreement
Pursuant to Article 37ed of the Public Procurement Law:
- the urban planning agreement specifies the investor's obligations regarding the complementary investment (e.g. technical and communication infrastructure, social services such as kindergartens, schools, recreational facilities);
- the annex to the urban planning agreement is a draft integrated investment plan;
- the legal effects of the urban planning agreement arise on the date of entry into force of the integrated investment plan in the wording specified in the annex to the urban planning agreement;
- If the integrated investment plan is repealed, amended or declared invalid before the expiry of 5 years from the date of its entry into force, the parties to the urban planning agreement may withdraw from the urban planning agreement within 6 months from the date of repeal, amendment or declaration of invalidity of the integrated investment plan.
Practical notes
- ZPI cannot be adopted without the investor’s consent and is not created at the initiative of the commune;
- Failure to conclude an urban planning agreement means that the resolution of the municipal council on the adoption of the ZPI remains ineffective ;
- The ZPI procedure can be much faster than the classic local plan , provided that the investor cooperates well with the municipality and the documentation is properly prepared;
- Under an urban planning agreement, the commune may obtain real benefits in the form of implementing public purpose investments (e.g. roads, networks, squares).
Summary
ZPI is an innovative planning tool that enables effective collaboration between the municipality and the investor in shaping the space. Although the ZPI procedure has been simplified compared to traditional local plans, it still requires transparency, public consultation, and compliance with planning documents.
Thanks to the obligation to conclude an urban planning agreement, ZPI can ensure a balance between the investor's interests and the public interest, making it a tool that can accelerate the implementation of strategic local investments.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Legal status as of July 21, 2025
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