In today's article from the series "Tuesday Mornings for the Construction Industry," we continue our discussion of local development plans. The spatial planning process in Poland, including the adoption and amendment of local development plans (MPZP), has been the subject of criticism for years due to its length and complexity. In response to these challenges, the legislature has adopted a new institution, calling it the simplified planning procedure. Its main goal is to increase the flexibility of the spatial planning system and shorten the time needed to adopt or amend a MPZP in certain situations.
Under the regulations in force since September 2023, the simplified procedure may only be applied in strictly defined cases. A detailed list is set out in Article 27b of the Spatial Planning and Development Act and includes, in particular:
- adoption or amendment of the local plan regarding the location of renewable energy installations other than wind farms,
- changes in the local spatial development plan resulting from the need to adapt the plan to applicable legal provisions (e.g. environmental protection law, construction law, but also local law acts),
- changes to the local spatial development plan that are intended to take into account the results of environmental impact assessments or other environmental analyses,
- changes in the local spatial development plan (MPZP) that only concern minor functional or technical adjustments that do not significantly change the plan provisions (e.g. changing the colours of buildings or roofs, changing the lines demarcating areas with other functions),
- changes in land use that do not increase the environmental impact and limit the development and management of adjacent properties.
Therefore, the simplified procedure cannot be used to introduce new, comprehensive development plans or for changes of a strategic nature – the full, classic planning procedure still applies.
The amendment introduced a reduction in the formal stages of the planning process. Below, we present the main elements of the simplified procedure.
The process begins with the mayor's announcement that the local spatial development plan (MPZP) has been prepared or amended, replacing the simplified procedure. The simplified procedure does not include the application submission process at the initiation stage.
The principle of public participation is retained, but in a simplified form. A shorter minimum deadline for submitting comments is provided (14 days instead of 21), and the number of meetings with residents may be limited. The process of consulting and reviewing the draft plan with external bodies has also been simplified. A shorter deadline of 14 days has also been applied to this process.
The application of the simplified procedure requires the consent of the voivode, which the municipal executive body applies for simultaneously with conducting public consultations and seeking opinions and approvals. However, the voivode may refuse his consent if the draft MPZP or any amendments thereto do not meet the conditions stipulated in the Act. If the draft MPZP does not receive the voivode's consent to apply the simplified procedure, or if the amendments introduced as a result of the consultation and approval process result in it no longer meeting the conditions for applying the simplified procedure.
Once consultations and agreements are completed, the project is submitted to the municipal council for consideration. Once adopted and published in the voivodeship's official journal, the amendment to the local spatial development plan comes into effect.
From July 1, 2027, information about the planning procedure will also be compulsorily published in the Register, which we wrote about in the article #172.
The aim of introducing a simplified procedure was to streamline spatial planning without sacrificing its transparency and legal compliance. Key benefits include:
- shortening the duration of the procedure – instead of several years, a change of plan can be implemented in just a few months;
- increasing planning efficiency – the municipality can quickly respond to legal or environmental changes;
- Flexibility – the ability to adjust plans on an ongoing basis without having to launch a full procedure.
While the simplified procedure represents a step forward, its implementation is not without challenges, as:
- requires a precise interpretation of the regulations – the municipality must carefully assess whether a given change qualifies for simplification;
- there is a risk of abuse – e.g. treating major changes as minor corrections;
- The need to obtain the voivode's consent during the planning procedure, in the event of a possible refusal, may also result in a longer process.
Therefore, any decision to use the simplified procedure should be preceded by a legal and urban planning analysis.
In summary, the simplified procedure for adopting and amending local spatial development plans, introduced by the amendment to the act in July 2023, addresses long-standing problems related to the protracted nature of planning processes in Poland. Its implementation could significantly increase the dynamics of planning activities in municipalities, but it requires prudence and responsibility. Maintaining a balance between efficiency and transparency will be crucial in these cases.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Legal status as of July 15, 2025
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