Local residents are resisting construction in Prague's Malvazinky

Prague - Local residents have appealed against the permit for the construction of a family house in Prague's Malvazinky in an area called Na Pláni, where neighborhood associations have protested against the local construction for more than ten years. Běla Vidmarová from the association Za zelené Malvazinky informed ČTK. The previous leadership of Prague 5 commissioned an urban study for the locality, whose rules, according to local representatives, the planned house does not meet, and there is also a risk of landslide. They are also unhappy with the fact that, according to the approved study, up to ten houses could be built in the area in the future. The mayor of Prague 5, Daniel Mazur (Pirates), stated that a change to the land-use plan is currently being prepared that will designate a large part of the land as a park.

"Why was the Na Pláni study created if its regulations have already failed in this first case? What can we expect when the other nine residential buildings planned against the will of locals in the study are realized? Skyscrapers?" said association member Kateřina Zonková.

Vidmarová added that the building permit for the three-story house is based on an outdated engineering-geological survey that was created for the original project by Geosan Sigma. This has raised a number of doubts, and the town hall eventually terminated the contract with the developer for the land in 2013. According to Vidmarová, there is a risk of landslide if the building is constructed, and she also referred to a natural science survey from 2008, which indicated that the area should be preserved as urban green space.

Mayor Mazur stated that the self-government cannot interfere in the decisions of building authorities. "In Prague 5, we have areas burdened by various histories, and there has been a dispute in the Na Pláni area for more than ten years regarding the desired direction of development," he said. He added that a substantial part of the space should change to urban green space due to the planned change in the land-use plan. According to him, there are more similar places in Prague 5. "I am gradually going through all corners of Prague 5; I'm trying to get to know mainly the places of possible conflicts between construction and nature protection, heritage protection, or simply the opinions of local residents," he said.

More than a dozen houses were to be built from scratch in Na Pláni. According to opponents of the construction from both the public and local politicians, it would mean the destruction of greenery and several species of animals. Furthermore, Geosan was to buy the land from the town hall for 49.7 million crowns after the houses were built. The town hall eventually terminated the contract and won the subsequent legal dispute with the developer. During the last electoral term, the municipal district commissioned a study that involved local residents in its preparation. However, part of them, including the Za zelené Malvazinky association, is still not satisfied with the final study because it includes construction on part of the space.