The new director of the Prague IPR is architect Petr Hlaváček

Prague - The Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) has a new director. Architect Petr Hlaváček (1961) has taken on this role. His appointment was approved today by the Prague councilors. Hlaváček replaces Tomáš Ctibor, who was dismissed at the end of last year. Since January 1, architect Pavla Melková has been leading the IPR as an interim director. Hlaváček will officially assume his position on March 1.
    A total of 11 candidates applied for the director position at IPR. Among them were, for example, former director of ex-mayor Tomáš Hudeček's office (exTOP 09) Ondřej Boháč and Bořek Votava, former director of the City Development Department (URM). URM was transformed into IPR under the previous leadership.
    Architect Hlaváček studied at the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University (ČVUT), where he currently works as a lecturer. According to the ČVUT website, he is the vice-dean for development and construction.
    The way IPR will function will be discussed at a joint meeting of Hlaváček and Deputy Mayor Matěj Stropnický (Trojkoalice) next week. In the past, opposition representatives have criticized IPR for addressing too many issues at once. This may change. "We certainly do not want to do everything, but only what is necessary," Hlaváček stated. The institute should also be more open to the public.
    Ctibor was dismissed by the current councilors at the end of last year due to alleged misconduct regarding the handling of objections from the Ministry for Regional Development (MMR) to Prague’s building regulations.
    IPR was established by transforming the City Development Department under Mayor Hudeček. The institute is tasked with preparing a new urban plan and planning the city's development. The annual budget for IPR is in the range of several hundred million Czech crowns.