Prague will change the zoning plan in some areas

Prague - The Prague City Hall will change the zoning plan in certain areas. Decisions will be made differently regarding additional changes to the height of the planned building, the construction of underground parking garages, or the ratio of green space to built-up area on the land. This was decided today by the city committee for urban development. The change must still be approved by the council in September. The construction in Prague is governed by the zoning plan. The city is now preparing a new Metropolitan Plan, which is set to replace the current one from January 1, 2023, which the committee supported the amendment of today.

In practice, this means, for example, that if an investor wanted to increase the number of floors of a building by one additional floor, they would no longer need to request a change to the zoning plan from the city. They would only need the approval of the building authority. However, they will have to meet a number of conditions.

Another new feature will be that if so-called engineering networks are in the way of a park, they can be deepened without changing the zoning plan, and the surface can be returned to its original state. This change was prompted by the fact that there are areas in the city where it was not possible to bring in cables without changing the zoning plan. Conversely, the plan will prohibit placing underground garages under parks, which was previously possible under some of them.

The plan currently determines how a building should be used, regardless of whether it is to be located on a main street or in a cul-de-sac. This will be abolished. Henceforth, officials will not use the zoning plan as a basis for decision-making; instead, they will refer to the so-called spatial analytical documentation. This documentation describes the character of the surrounding area, and they will decide whether it is appropriate to have more shops or apartments in the building, for example.

The required ratio of green space to built-up area will also be changed. Until now, it was 75 percent to 25 percent. It will now be half and half. According to representatives of the Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), the reason for this change was that the ratios were manipulated after the approval of construction. At the same time, investors are unable to comply with the originally required ratio in the case of buildings in block development.

Against the ban on the construction of underground parking garages under parks was voiced by the Deputy Mayor of Prague 6, Martin Polách (ANO), at the committee meeting. "We have several locations where we would need to place garages. And the areas are more than suitable for it. There isn't much space for that in Prague," he said. The head of the zoning plan modification department at IPR, Kateřina Szentesiová, stated that it will be possible in certain cases.

In contrast, nothing changes regarding small watercourses compared to the current state. The list of what constitutes publicly beneficial buildings will also be updated.