Plzeň is preparing a technology park and archive in the former barracks

Plzeň - Plzeň is preparing to build a technology park focused on robotics and drones in the former Světovar brewery and barracks for 100 million crowns. For the same amount, a city archive will be constructed there. A local developer will begin constructing residential buildings on about a third of the area this year. Pavel Šindelář (ODS), the deputy mayor, said this to ČTK today.

A so-called cultural factory of the European Capital of Culture 2015 and an archive was supposed to be located in the Světovar area. However, Plzeň failed to draw European subsidies for the construction because builders discovered harmful corkedhet in the walls and floors, which was removed last year.

"In the building originally considered for the cultural factory and archive, there will be a technology park focusing on robotics and drones. And the facility named Bratislava is intended for the archive," said Šindelář. The city is currently completing studies with architects so it can submit the project for zoning decisions and building permits. According to the deputy, approximately a year will be needed for the projects, for which three million crowns have been allocated this year, and by the middle of next year, a competition for contractors will begin. Construction work is expected to start in 2018 and last one construction season.

The city will not receive subsidies for the archive, but it intends to obtain them for the technology park from the Operational Programme Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Competitiveness and from the IROP programme for education. "For the archive, it will involve modifications and extensions; for the second facility, it will be a reconstruction. The remaining buildings of the area currently have no use," said the deputy. However, the city hall plans to gradually modify two villas. "If someone comes and wants to invest money there, we will be happy to facilitate that," he added.

Světovar is currently one of the largest development sites for housing in Plzeň. A local private developer, BC Real, already has a building permit. The first phase will involve 72 apartments, which the company is already offering for sale. According to Šindelář, BC Real likes the city projects for the archive and technology park, and they do not conflict with its plans. The second side of the area, towards the tram depot, is designated for apartment construction.