CHAPTER 4: ANSWERS
4.1 Blockchain licensing
It may be the case that blockchain technology could prove an effective solution to the delays in licensing processes in Portugal. This technology has the potential to facilitate a transparent and decentralised system that could contribute to the acceleration of the approval process for rehabilitation projects.
We would like to present the example of Estonia, which has experienced notable success in this regard. In Estonia, the use of blockchain in administrative processes has led to notable reductions in document processing and approval times. Tallinn has adopted this technology for managing urban planning permits, which has resulted in a notable reduction in waiting times for construction and rehabilitation approvals.
It would be beneficial to consider the applicability of a blockchain platform for licensing in Portugal. Such a platform could potentially streamline bureaucratic processes, making them more transparent and agile. It could also provide an integrated system for monitoring the progress of each licensing phase, which would be beneficial for all stakeholders, including owners, investors, municipalities, and heritage authorities. This could help reduce interdepartmental conflicts and inefficiencies that currently exist in the sector.
4.2 Involvement of Financial Institutions
To overcome the challenge of limited funding, it would be beneficial to explore the potential for financial institutions to play an active role in combining public and private resources.
We would like to present an example from Amsterdam. The Amsterdam government has formed a partnership with local banks with the aim of establishing a revolving fund that will provide low-interest financing for the rehabilitation of vacant buildings.
It might be worth considering a similar revolving fund, with government guarantees, to support small homeowners and housing cooperatives in Portugal. Perhaps banks, in partnership with the state, could offer low-interest loans, relieving financial pressure and encouraging mass rehabilitation. It could also be beneficial to create a specific fund for affordable housing, ensuring that projects are aligned with housing needs.
4.3 Innovation and Technology in Construction
It may be possible to speed up rehabilitation and make it more sustainable by introducing innovative technologies in the construction sector.
We would like to present an example from Vienna, Austria, which we feel illustrates this point well. In Vienna, the use of modular construction in social housing projects has yielded positive results. By employing prefabricated technologies, the city has been able to reduce construction costs and cut completion times. Furthermore, the use of sustainable materials has helped to ensure compliance with the European Union's environmental targets.
It would be remiss of us not to consider the potential for this approach to be applied in Portugal. It may be the case that modular and prefabricated construction could be a viable solution, especially in dense urban areas. It might be beneficial for the government to consider encouraging the use of new technologies and recycled materials with a view to speeding up construction and reducing costs. It would be beneficial for the government to consider providing support for technological innovation, particularly in the field of sustainable materials, with the aim of promoting energy efficiency in rehabilitated buildings and reducing the ecological footprint.
It would be beneficial to consider ways of stimulating the circular economy in construction. We believe that promoting the reuse of demolition materials and encouraging technological innovation could help integrate rehabilitation into a cycle of sustainability, which would generate long-term benefits for the sector and the environment.