Investments in the development of basic road infrastructure could be more efficient in the metropolitan area of Guatemala if more vertical construction is encouraged.
According to experts, promoting vertical commercial and housing construction could reduce investments in transportation infrastructure, because it would make Guatemala's metropolitan area more compact and reduce traffic costs.
Currently, 13,000 homes are built per year, however, to reduce the housing deficit in the country, at least 55,000 units should be built annually.
The Foundation for Development (Fundesa) presented the National Housing Plan, whose main objective is to establish actions focused on the promotion of the housing market in Guatemala.
Now, in addition, an inquiry must be made at the National Committee of Protected Areas to determine if a construction project is within a protected sector.
The headache of getting a construction license in Guatemala will get worse now that a new process has been added to the list. In addition to the 13 agencies that must "rule " whether or not a permission can be granted, Government Agreement 20-2016 by the Ministry of Environment, establishes in Article 13 a new requirement for the construction sector: a consultation with the National Committee on Protected areas (CONAP), said Jorge Benavides, research associate of the Foundation for the Development of Guatemala to Republica.gt.