Government budget approved: Cities expected to renew under state auspices

• Published date: 02 April 2024
• Author: OFER PETERSBURG
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Framework agreements are established between the governmental authority for urban renewal and local authorities possessing extensive planning stock but encountering challenges in issuing building permits due to insufficient infrastructure development funds. These agreements introduce a competitive mechanism among signatory local authorities, encouraging expedited building permit issuance within urban renewal complexes. As a local authority issues more permits, it secures a larger budget share from the authority's dedicated fund, supporting infrastructure development for urban renewal projects within its jurisdiction

The initial framework agreements were inked in August 2021 between the Governmental Authority for Urban Renewal and the cities of Jerusalem, Lod, Bat Yam, Kiryat Ono, Haifa, Netanya, Givatayim, Ramat Gan, Ashdod, Beit Shemesh, Hadera, and Kiryat Yam. Each authority establishes a steering committee co-chaired by the mayor and the director-general of the authority to oversee the progress of realizable complexes and expedite their realization. The incentives provided through these agreements have significantly boosted the number of housing units receiving building permits since their signing.

"The signing of the agreements will enable the renewal of thousands of housing units in these municipalities"

Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf stated, "Increasing the budget and expanding the circle of cities with which we will sign the framework agreements for urban renewal is essential...