<h1>Chamber of Commerce: The Metropolitan Plan is key for housing construction in Prague</h1>

Prague – The approval of the new Prague zoning plan is crucial for increasing housing construction, without which it is impossible to solve the housing crisis in the metropolis. This was stated today in a press release by the Chamber of Commerce. According to the chamber, the existing plan from 1999 no longer meets the city’s needs. The so-called Metropolitan Plan will be approved by Prague representatives at their Thursday meeting; if approved, it will take effect on September 1. The proposal and the procedure for its approval are criticized by some civic and local groups.

According to the chamber’s president Zdeněk Zajíček (ODS), there is a discussion in the metropolis about various causes of expensive housing, but the fundamental problem lies in the lack of apartments, which are being built at two-thirds less than what the city needs. "And until this changes, housing prices will continue to soar for both people and companies. No further regulation will solve the problem on its own. Prague needs to build, and to be able to build, it needs a new zoning plan because the one from 1999 is insufficient for the new era," he stated.

The emphasis on the development of housing construction, particularly on brownfields within the city, is, according to him, a significant asset of the Metropolitan Plan, which, according to information from the city’s Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), includes the capacity for the construction of up to 350,000 apartments. From the perspective of public investment, transport, and quality of life for residents and businesses, it is rational to build within the city rather than outside of it. According to the president, Prague should also build higher, which is also included in the new document.

Although the new plan, according to Zajíček, is not a definitive solution to the housing crisis, it is a necessary step to strengthen construction. He added that discussions about amendments to the document can continue even after approval. "The current plan from 1999 will cease to be valid in 18 months, and if a new one is not approved by then, Prague risks a situation where it will not be possible to approve not only new apartments but also schools or essential infrastructure," he stated. The chamber also considers other necessary measures to be speeding up building approvals, ensuring a stable and predictable legislative environment, and strengthening the construction of affordable rental housing.

The Metropolitan Plan also has its critics. For example, according to the civic association Arnika, it was not prepared transparently enough and has significant shortcomings in the protection of greenery and ensuring necessary public facilities. The association called on representatives last week to postpone the approval to June or September, arguing that there is not enough time to study the final document. Many local civic groups are also dissatisfied that thousands of residents' comments have not been addressed.

Arnika stated today in a press release that while the plan includes space for many apartments, it lacks capacity for schools, kindergartens, and social services. "The city is planning a huge increase in the number of residents without ensuring corresponding public facilities. The impacts will primarily affect families with children, and the quality of life in Prague will continue to decline," said Anna Vinklárková on behalf of the association. Arnika called on the city to supplement the Metropolitan Plan with a clear delineation of areas for schools, kindergartens, and in consideration of the aging population, also for health and social service facilities before final approval.

The preparation of the new plan was approved by the city council in 2012, a year later the representatives approved its assignment, and in 2018 the IPR published the first draft. This was followed by three rounds of public consultation, the first in 2018, the second in 2022, and the third last year. The current plan can remain in force without changes to the law until the end of 2028 at the latest. If the city does not approve a new plan by then, it risks blocking construction. The approval of the plan was unanimously recommended by the city council's urban development committee on Tuesday.