ANDORRA Law and Practice Contributed by: Elena Redondo, Albert Hinojosa and Marc Ambrós, Cases & Lacambra
declaration of insolvency or the development of the insolvency procedure, due to their ranking as privileged claims. Nevertheless, the claw-back regime provided for under the Insolvency Decree of 4 October 1969 ( Decret de suspensió de pagaments i fal - lida ) states that the insolvency judge can declare any mortgage or pledge granted over the debtor assets after the cessation-of-payments day in merits of outstanding debts prior to the cessa - tion of payments as unenforceable against the insolvent estate. The insolvency judge can also declare it unenforceable if the granting of such mortgage or pledge occurred six months prior to the cessation-of-payments day as a gratuitous act. Lastly, the insolvency judge can set the dec - laration of the cessation-of-payments date up to 18 months prior to such an effective declaration. 3.10 Taxes on Loans There are no rules requiring lenders or borrowers to pay registration or similar taxes in connection with real estate mortgage loans. 4. Planning and Zoning 4.1 Legislative and Governmental Controls Applicable to Strategic Planning and Zoning Legislative and governmental controls applica - ble to strategic planning and zoning principally correspond to regional authorities (town halls) of each administrative unit ( parish – Parròquia ), even though the Andorran government set out the general boundaries in respect of its develop - ment. In this vein, the regional authorities are the com - petent authorities to do the following:
• draft, pass and publish the general master plans ( plans d’ordenació i urbanisme parro - quials ) and special plans ( plans especials ), the regulatory state ordinances ( ordenances regu- ladores de la normativa subsidiària ), reform ordinances ( ordenances de rehabilitació ) and protection, sanitation and internal reform programmes ( programes de reforma interior, de protecció i de sanejament ); • advise owners and collaborate with them in drafting and passing town plans ( plans par- cials ); and • issue building licences ( llicències d’obra ). 4.2 Legislative and Governmental Controls Applicable to Design, Appearance and Method of Construction The key control concerning the design, appear - ance and construction methods of new buildings or refurbishment is obtaining working licences ( llicències d’obra ) and the approval of construc - tion projects ( projectes d’edificació ) by the town halls, in accordance with the applicable generic and sectorial planning and building regulations. The Construction Act was amended in May 2020 to allow the public authorities to suspend con - struction works if they are not compliant with the Construction or Urban Act. The amended Construction Act also adapts the authorisation Town halls are responsible for drafting and pass - ing the general master plans ( plans d’ordenació i urbanisme parroquials ) which determine the total buildability for each of the parishes ( Parròquies ) and a priority use for every parcel in accordance with specific technical and administrative restric - tions, by establishing the soil classification and the action units ( unitats d’actuació ) and fixing the public service estimations. procedures under the Urban Act. 4.3 Regulatory Authorities
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