A fast-track process for low-impact developments has come into force for building permits filed before July 1, the interior ministry announced on Tuesday.

The measure is being implemented by decree for low-risk residential units as part of a bigger overhaul of the system, the ministry said.

Instead of having to go through the entire procedure, these applicants can complete a special declaration form and submit it to their relevant local authority, which will examine the checked list of conditions within two working days either to reject or accept the application.

“The measure is being implemented as a transitional stage within the framework of the new development licensing system, pending the implementation of the new method of examining and issuing building permits for low-risk developments,” the ministry said.

The aim is to relieve local authorities of a backlog of some 5,000 applications for Category A building permits, which were submitted before July 1 and have already secured planning permission.

The ministry said the step will help it move forward with a more rapid and automated system for examining urban planning and construction applications.

In the first phase, from October 2, the new system was implemented in respect of issuing residential planning permission for single-family and semi-detached houses with a completion schedule of January 2025.

With the new practice, the necessary permits for low-risk developments will be issued within a total of 40 working days, “thus reducing delays and the time for issuing permits and accelerating the start of construction work”, the ministry said.

Once the backlog of low-risk buildings is cleared, the system will move on to speeding up permits for medium-risk developments such as four-storey buildings with 20 apartments or up to 12 terraced homes, which are named as Category B projects. These are expected to be cleared in 80 working days.