Constructions are put on pause in this Hungarian town due to overpopulation

The unprecedented ban affects almost the entire town. According to the municipality’s decision, no construction can start from the 15th of July. However, ongoing constructions can be finished even during the ban.

As Népszava reported, the town of Érd did something that no one expected. Located in Pest County, Érd is the eleventh most populous town in Hungary. At its last general assembly, the municipality of Érd imposed a halt to all the new constructions happening in the town. There are only two zones that are not affected, the industrial zone and the residential area in downtown Érd. This means, that the alterations of condominiums and family houses, as well as the extensions to the attic and other additions, are under a ban. The decision is only temporary while the local government works out a new construction code that is more stringent than the current one.

Overpopulation

László Csőzik, the independent mayor of Érd, reckons that the town is getting overpopulated.  Érd is hit by constant traffic, and the lack of parking spaces poses a serious issue. The infrastructure cannot handle the ever-expanding population. There are long queues every day in front of the doctor’s office, and there has been a long waiting list in the nursery for years. The new school, which opened its doors last year, is already overcrowded, unable to accept additional pupils. Class sizes are also getting bigger. Instead of starting the school year with 2-3 classes as usual, there is a need for 6-7 classes in the next term. The water supply company has also warned the town council that soon there will not be sufficient amount water supplying all the residents.

Locals’ sentiment

As László Csőzik put it, every decision has a political risk. According to a preliminary population survey, the majority of locals agree to the temporary ban on contractions. In the meantime, the local government is working on a new law. There is certainly no time to waste. If the current frenzy of condominium construction had continued unabated during the preparation of the new building code, it would have had unimaginable consequences for the townscape. The institutions and the water supply would entirely have failed the town population.

Curse of the agglomeration

The overpopulation of Érd in not an unparalleled issue. Most towns in the agglomeration of Budapest have been facing similar problems. People in Nagytarcsa have also complained about poor tap water quality (“filthy water running from the taps”) and insufficient nurseries. Solymár had a major water supply crisis last summer as well. In neighbourhoods of higher altitudes, there was no water at all for days. Temporary water shortage has affected more than 10 towns in the agglomeration.