Praha has changed a part of the spatial plan, it will change the decision-making procedures

Prague - Prague city councilors today changed the zoning plan in some areas. Decisions regarding the additional change in the height of the planned buildings, the construction of underground parking garages, or the ratio of greenery to built-up area on the land will be made differently. Councilor Matěj Stropnický (SZ/Trojkoalice) and representatives of civic associations expressed their disagreement with the change. Construction in Prague is governed by the zoning plan. The city is now preparing a new Metropolitan Plan that should replace the current one starting from January 1, 2023.

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

Another novelty will be that if so-called engineering networks are in the way of a park, it will be possible to deepen them without changing the zoning plan and restore the surface to its original state. This change was prompted by the fact that there are areas in the city where it was impossible to bring in cables without changing the zoning plan. Conversely, the plan will prohibit placing underground garages underneath parks, which was previously allowed under some of them.

The plan now decides how a building should be used, regardless of whether it is located on a main street or in a cul-de-sac. This will be abolished. Officials will now use so-called spatial analytical documents instead of the zoning plan as a basis for decision-making. These documents describe the character of the surroundings and they will decide whether it is appropriate for the building to contain more shops or apartments.

The required ratio of greenery to built-up area will also be changed. It was previously 75 percent to 25 percent. It will now be fifty-fifty. According to representatives of the Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), the reason was that the required ratios were manipulated after the approval of buildings. Additionally, investors are unable to maintain the originally required ratio in the case of block development.

In contrast, nothing will change regarding small watercourses compared to the current situation. The list of what constitutes public benefit constructions will also be updated.

Councilor Matěj Stropnický did not support the change, as he objected to the new method of placing transport technical structures. "This is an insurmountable obstacle for me," he said. The proposal was also criticized by the communists. Václav Orcígr from the Arnika association then criticized the new possibility of increasing the number of floors in a building or changing the ratio of greenery to built-up area.