ÉKM: new time zone at Balaton, protection of natural values and public areas comes first

By: STA Date: 2025. 08. 29. 10:30

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The protection of Lake Balaton has reached a real milestone, as the government decree on the land use requirements of the lake’s waterfront areas (BATÉK) was published in the Hungarian Gazette. The new, uniform and stricter than ever construction regulations guarantee the preservation of the natural beauty and ecological balance of Lake Balaton and its surroundings – National Chief Architect Regő Lánszki, State Secretary for Architecture at the Ministry of Construction and Transport, told MTI on Wednesday.

(Photo: Pixabay)

According to the statement, Lake Balaton is our unique natural heritage, the protection of which is our shared responsibility. The decree prevents green areas and beaches from being taken over by private owners, restricts waterfront developments, and significantly increases the length of natural shorelines and coastal promenades. The length of natural coastal sections will increase from 102 kilometers to 112 kilometers, while the length of coastal promenades will increase from 65 to 95 kilometers, which represents a 50 percent increase.

Overall, about 70 percent more public areas will be available, including municipal beaches and coastal promenades that cannot be closed to pedestrian traffic

In addition, 1,568 hectares of land have been designated as a coastal strip to be preserved without development, where no new buildings can be built within at least 30 meters of the Balaton line – the announcement states. In the future, a port can only be established in a place where the experts of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate also agree – the national chief architect added. “The BATÉK decree opens a new era in the history of Lake Balaton. With this, we create the conditions for the lake to be a refuge for nature, a home for locals and an experience accessible to everyone,” said Regő Lánszki, according to the statement.

MTI