The South City Project in Plzeň has been halted by the council

Plzeň - Plzeň's councillors have suspended the project for the future South City area, which has been discussed for eight years. In their meeting, they first approved the principles for the development of this two-hundred-hectare area on the outskirts of Plzeň towards Klatovy, but also decided not to request a change to the zoning plan. The city does not need additional production or hundreds of hectares for housing, said Mayor Pavel Rödl to journalists. However, according to Deputy Mayor Vladimír Duchko, the principles approved by the council are erroneous. He claims that this area is being prepared for the construction of a logistics center.
    "The principles contradict the city's economic development strategy," he said. Duchko noted that the location is being prepared for areas not for apartments, as previously planned, but for light manufacturing, which is not in line with the support of the so-called knowledge economy with higher added value that the city has committed to. New manufacturing halls would attract more foreign workers to Plzeň, along with associated security and social risks.
    The approved concept was described as strange by the deputy because it anticipates investments in municipal infrastructure of 1.6 billion CZK. "The city has far more important tasks now, such as building a tram line to Borská pole," he added. He warned that extensive discussions among councilors can be expected on whether to approve the principles for the development of South City or not.
    According to Rödl, the councillors gave consent because a study of the development of the area near Litic is already completed. "About 35 hectares are designated for light manufacturing, the rest for mixed urban areas, mainly housing, shops, and so on," he explained. The total area is 600 hectares, and the study is developed for one-third of it. "In order for work to continue there, it is necessary to request a change in the zoning plan. We have decided not to do it," Rödl added.
    The demographic development in Plzeň in the future is not promising, with a decline in population expected. "Opening 160 hectares for housing seems unnecessary to us, especially since decisions are currently being made about changing the zoning plan for an equally large area in Švabiny," he added. Thus, South City will wait for further demographic developments, employment trends, and it will be up to future councilors to decide on a potential change in the zoning plan.
    However, Duchko stated that discussions are already underway regarding a partial change to the zoning plan in the area near the intersection of the highway and road 1/27. CTP Invest wants to build a logistics center there, which is completing the second largest industrial zone in Plzeň, adjacent to Borská pole towards Domažlice. "I fear that all discussions about South City will actually lead only to the construction of this transshipment point," the deputy added. Rödl confirmed that the request for a partial change will be discussed.
    The author of the vision for South City, or the new vast district of Plzeň, is former mayor Miroslav Kalous. On the vacant hundreds of hectares of fields and meadows on the outskirts of Plzeň, a vast housing estate for tens of thousands of residents, along with halls for light manufacturing and sports facilities, was supposed to be built.