Integration of sustainability aspects into future “national building regulations”? A meeting between Mouvement Ecologique and Minister of the Interior Léon Gloden
Mouvement Ecologique recently held talks with Interior Minister Léon Gloden on the national building regulations (règlement national des bâtisses). The meeting was prompted by a statement issued by Mouvement Ecologique on the subject. It is well known that the current government plans to replace the multitude of municipal building regulations with binding national guidelines in the future. To date, the Ministry of the Interior had only issued recommendations to the municipalities in the form of a “règlement type”; this recommendation is now to be replaced by a national set of regulations.
The Mouvement Ecologique considers it essential that the national regulations also address important relevant issues for the future. This means, above all, requirements
- in the energy sector: it makes no sense for each municipality to have different regulations on how and where a solar system or heat pump can be installed;
- regarding greening: minimum criteria should be established, such as a ban on gravel gardens and the required size of planting pits for trees in public spaces;
- water management: water should not flow immediately into the sewer system, for example, as it is needed for watering green spaces during periods of drought;
- Regarding the renovation of houses: this must be made easier; the same standards should no longer apply to house renovations as to new buildings.
- Light pollution and permissible illuminated advertising in public areas.
Working groups met last year on behalf of the state, and the Mouvement Ecologique raised the question of the extent to which these issues will be addressed in the new building regulations and what the working groups’ future work will look like.
The Minister stated that he was definitely aiming to “modernise” the building regulations and would also incorporate some of the suggestions made by the Mouvement Ecologique. However, it remained unclear during the meeting to what extent this would happen, partly because the Ministry’s work had not yet been completed.
As far as the working groups are concerned, the minister said that their work had been completed. Following the exchanges, he now had all the information and views at his disposal. It was up to him to take responsibility and he would table a draft bill before the summer holidays.
The discussion also focused on the fact that not all important developments can be addressed in the building regulations. For example, the implementation of a “green concept” in every municipality is a key demand of the Mouvement Ecologique, as is a heating plan for medium-sized and large municipalities. The Mouvement Ecologique is convinced that it would be extremely appropriate for the Minister to explain, when presenting the national building regulations, which aspects cannot be dealt with within the framework of the national regulations, but rather through legislative changes, among other things. Léon Gloden was very open to this idea and indicated that changes to the law would be considered at the same time.
As is well known, the building regulations must not go beyond the objectives of the law (as they are implementing regulations based on the law).
However, certain aspects, including various issues raised by the Mouvement Ecologique, are not currently clearly defined as objectives in the law. Unless, that is, the term “durable” used in the law is interpreted quite broadly. The Minister stated that this issue needed to be examined in more detail, but that amendments to the law might well be appropriate.
It was positive that this exchange took place, and we can look forward to the draft in June/July with interest.
Translated by deepl.com
09.03.26