Čelákovice is preparing to adopt a new zoning plan, aimed at curbing the pressure from developers

Čelákovice - Čelákovice near Prague will have a new zoning plan after ten years of preparation, which aims to significantly guide the city's development and slow down the pressure from developers. For the largest development areas, so-called regulatory plans will be established. The current zoning plan is from 1994. The new one, which should serve at least until 2050, will be discussed by the councilors likely at the next meeting in December. The city is now awaiting a statement from the Central Bohemian Regional Office. This was stated by Deputy Mayor Petr Studnička (ODS).

The city has faced increased pressure from developers in recent years, especially due to its proximity to the capital city. "We do not want construction to exhaust the city's development potential for future generations within a few years. The new zoning plan divides development into multiple phases and proposes regulatory plans for the largest areas,” said Studnička. According to him, Čelákovice is already signing agreements with developers for cooperation. "It's analogous to planning contracts, whereby for each plot or apartment, we want a contribution for infrastructure or school places," noted Studnička. In the long term, the city, where approximately 12,400 people currently live, should be prepared to accommodate around 16,000 residents.

For the plan from 1994, the city gradually approved seven amendments. "During that time, the situation in the background of the capital city of Prague has significantly changed, and therefore the city clearly needs a new zoning plan,” added Studnička. The preparation of the new zoning plan was, according to the deputy mayor, very demanding for various reasons. During a public discussion in 2019, for instance, there were nearly 250 objections and comments, and changes in laws as well as COVID interfered with the preparations. There is now consensus among the councilors on the new plan.

The development of the city, according to Studnička, will be significantly influenced by the ongoing realignment of the railway line and the construction of a road bypass of the town, which is expected to be built between 2024 and 2026. The development areas are two locations in Záluží, Volmanov, where a new investor is considering building a modern district, and the former industrial area of Kovohutí, where a new residential district is also set to emerge in place of the brownfield. In the second phase, the largest area will be the nearly fifty-hectare Krátká Linva, which can accommodate up to 1,500 people. The plan also includes a bypass of Záluží from the D11 highway and a future terminal for the high-speed line from Prague-east in Nehvizdy.

The most apartment buildings in Čelákovice were built between 1946 and 1970, while the most single-family homes were constructed between 2001 and 2010. "There is no modern homogeneous developer construction or any 'satellite towns' in the city, which we are very glad about, even though the pressure for this type of construction is enormous. So far, we have always managed to resist it and we will do everything to ensure that this remains the case in the future," added the deputy mayor.