9 months before construction begins

Before construction on a warehouse project can begin, a large number of administrative approvals and opinions must be obtained—about 20 applications in total. “The entire process takes an average of nine months, at best,” says Maria Mędryk, a Senior Design & Construction Architect at 7R.

Every construction project begins with the preparation of the project documentation. An absorption analysis is required, and it is also necessary to verify the legal and technical status of the plot. Based on all of this, a “construction design” is prepared before an application for a building permit can be submitted. Many documents must be prepared and submitted. One of the most important of these is the environmental permit application.

“This is the longest and most difficult process, and at the same time a crucial one. The environmental permit process usually takes about six months, but can sometimes take even longer. In total, we submit around 20 applications for various decisions and approvals before we can even get around to applying for a building permit,” explains Maria Mędryk, who adds: “We are more inclined to develop land that is already covered by local plans. If they are not already in place, then it’s necessary to obtain a site development conditions decision (WZ), and this adds another three months of waiting. Only once you have the site development conditions in hand can you then apply for the building permit.”

A flood of applications

“Drawing up the project is the shortest and most enjoyable stage of the entire process for architects,” argues Maria Mędryk, who adds that applications can be submitted electronically. “This solution significantly speeds up the process, but that’s not all. By submitting an application electronically, we can avoid printing hundreds of pages, and this directly benefits the environment,” emphasizes the expert from 7R.

Interestingly, there are no significant differences in the time it takes for local authorities in large cities and small towns to process applications.

“It doesn’t matter whether we’re building in a big city or in the countryside—the procedures are the same everywhere. However, it’s sometimes the case that some smaller towns are more efficient. For them, new investment means new jobs and higher tax revenues,” explains Maria Mędryk. “We may also encounter differing interpretations of the same issues from different local governments, so before submitting the application to the relevant department, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with how such cases are generally viewed in that particular area,” she adds.

Tailored for the tenants

Obtaining a valid building permit and starting construction does not mean that the administrative challenges involved in developing a warehouse project are over. Quite often, it is necessary to obtain a replacement permit.

“The building permit application typically covers only the construction of a hall without any specific requirements from tenants. Once we secure a tenant, we then have to revise the documentation to meet their specific needs. This is generally the purpose of replacement permits. The replacement project does not require obtaining previous approvals again—and preparing it is much faster than the original application,” argues Maria Mędryk.

It is also somewhat of a challenge to ensure that the utility connections are in place by the required stage of the project.

“It can happen that there are no gas or electricity networks in the neighborhood, so the utility provider might announce that it will install them, for example, in two years. In such cases, as a developer, we have to build several kilometers of network or install our own alternatives, such as LNG storage tanks,” says a 7R expert.

The permitting process does not end with the contractor’s completion of the warehouse. In order for tenants to begin operating in the buildings, the developer must obtain an occupancy permit.

“The building is inspected by health and safety officials, the fire department, and construction oversight agencies. Only after the building has been approved by these parties can it be put into use,” emphasizes Maria Mędryk.