News

More places in schools, more cycling routes and new P+R car parks. These are the types of projects that may be implemented over the coming years thanks to the joint integrated strategy of two neighbouring regions. Up to CZK 4.6 billion may flow into the metropolitan area.

The North-South Trunk Road could become a more pleasant place. Prague’s councillors have agreed that its transformation will also involve the famous Danish architect and urban designer Jan Gehl.

Residents of the Vybíralova courtyard at Černý Most have seen the first version of the plan to revitalize their estate. The aim is to improve safety and the local environment and to offer better management and interesting activities for children, adults and senior citizens. The draft plan also deals with the poor parking situation.

The City of Prague is announcing a design competition for municipal street furniture. Designers will come up with a new look for benches, bike stands and litter bins, and will compete in a public international competition organised by the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR Prague). All the street furniture should be designed in line with the character and history of Prague and should tastefully enhance the image of Prague’s streets and squares. The winner will be known in autumn 2017.

The public spaces of Prague’s eleven metro stations should see a change for the better. The proposed measures for selected stations were drawn up by the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR Prague), at the request of Prague City Council. In addition to a general clean-up, the mobile stands, excessively aggressive advertising and inappropriate street furniture should be removed from the concourses. At the same time, the range of services and shops will be housed in permanent premises. Some stations could also be restored to their original, architecturally valuable design.

This week Prague City Council withdrew the former director of the Institute of Planning and Development, Petr Hlaváček, and entrusted the management of the Institute to his deputy, Ondřej Boháč. Ing. arch. Petr Hlaváček was appointed director in February 2015 after succeeding in an open selection procedure and after being recommended to Prague City Council by a committee of experts as the best possible candidate.

The draft of the new Prague Land Use Plan, the Metropolitan Plan, was assessed during the summer by a working group made up of lawyers and urban planners. In the final report the members of this group state that the draft meets all the legislative requirements. The committee’s clear recommendation to continue the process of acquiring the Metropolitan Plan is also accompanied by a list of topics that the compiler (IPR) and the acquirer (the City of Prague Department of Regional Development) should focus on when completing and discussing the draft plan.

Today, councillors approved the Tramway Surfaces Policy. This will be used particularly by the city’s organisations to reconstruct and build new tramway lines. It specifies which surfaces can be used in the city centre, and which should be used on the outskirts.

From 15th September the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR Prague) will be publishing details of all its expenditure on its website. “A working democracy needs credible and transparent institutions. Therefore, we have decided to open up our economy for anyone interested to scrutinise,” says Petr Hlaváček, Director of IPR Prague.

More trees in the streets, more barrier-free crossings instead of dark underpasses and fewer unnecessary posts and columns to obstruct pedestrians on the pavements. On Monday 1 August new construction regulations will come into effect, the Prague Building Regulations, notified in spring by the European Commission.