The regional authority revoked the consent of the Olomouc city council for the Šantovka Tower

Olomouc - The Olomouc Regional Authority has canceled the decision of the heritage officials of the city council, who granted permission for the planned construction of the Šantovka Tower high-rise building near the historic center of Olomouc. The stance of the city council was contrary to the law, said Kamila Navrátilová, spokesperson for the regional authority. There is no appeal against the regional authority's ruling, which complicates the preparation for the construction of the high-rise building. Šantovka Tower has numerous opponents in Olomouc, claiming that the high-rise building will damage the city's skyline.
     The National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) requested the regional authority to control the work of Olomouc officials who approved the construction of the Šantovka Tower last year. The position of the city’s heritage officials differed from NPÚ's recommendations, and their decision was crucial for the Šantovka investor, allowing them to proceed with their project preparations. However, the regional authority found that the position of the city’s heritage officials was in violation of the administrative code and the law on state heritage care. "As an example, we can mention the incorrect identification of the plots on which the building is to be realized, an invalid power of attorney for the investor's representative, or insufficient justification or lack of justification for the conclusions made," Navrátilová stated.
        Project spokesperson for Šantovka Tower Juraj Aláč did not want to comment on the regional authority's decision. "We must first study the position of the regional authority," he told ČTK. The spokesperson for the city hall, Radka Štědrá, also left the regional authority's ruling without comment for now. According to František Chupík, director of the Olomouc branch of NPÚ, the regional authority largely agreed with NPÚ's concerns. "We regret the time spent confronting the investor's plans, which could have been devoted to finding a solution acceptable both to heritage interests and the future of Olomouc. We consider the level of the city council's management in such a serious matter as the question of high-rise buildings near the historic core to be deplorable," Chupík stated.
        The regional authority did not address whether Šantovka Tower would disrupt the skyline of Olomouc and whether it is consistent with heritage interests. Opponents of the project argue that the high-rise building will harm the city’s skyline. The scientific council of NPÚ, experts from the Institute of Art History, and the scientific council of the Faculty of Arts at UP have all expressed their opposition to its construction. Last year, hundreds of people demonstrated in Olomouc against a high-rise dominant in the protective zone of the heritage reserve. According to the investor, Šantovka Tower will not disrupt the skyline. From the visualization created by an independent expert from UP, it follows that the silhouette of the building will be visible from the city center.
        Šantovka Tower is expected to have 22 floors and, at 75 meters tall, would share the position of the second tallest building in Olomouc with the town hall. Opponents argue that the project contradicts the principles of regional land development, which take precedence over the city's zoning plan. The new zoning plan for Olomouc, which has yet to take effect, does not count on additional high-rise buildings near the heritage reserve.
        The construction costs for Šantovka Tower have been estimated by SMC Development, a company backed by entrepreneur Richard Morávek, at 400 million CZK. If the company obtains permission according to the current plan, construction could begin even after a new version takes effect.

Overview of the tallest buildings in Olomouc

Order	Location	Name	Height in meters
1.	Václavské náměstí	Cathedral of St. Wenceslas (main tower)	100.65
2.	Horní náměstí	Town hall tower	75
3.	Envelopa	Moravian University building	74
4.	Klášterní Hradisko	Klášterní Hradisko	72
5.	Main train station	Building of the Regional Center 2	71
6.	Václavské náměstí	Cathedral of St. Wenceslas (front towers)	68
7.	Hejčín	Church of St. Cyril and Methodius	65
8.	třída Svobody	Red Church	55
9.	8. května	Church of St. Moritz	46