Prague will take over the change of the zoning plan for the Žižkov Freight Station

Prague - Prague will continue with the process of amending the zoning plan concerning the Cargo Station in Žižkov. This decision was made today by the Prague councilors. The original initiator of the amendment was Prague 3 in 2008, which now wants to end its preparation. The zoning plan amendment is necessary for the development of land previously used by the railway. According to the council's decision, a new proposal will need to be developed that takes into account the declaration of the station building as a cultural monument.

“We would like to complete the amendment so that the building moratorium can be lifted and the reclamation of the brownfield can take place,” stated the deputy mayor for urban development, Petra Kolínská (Greens/Trojkoalice). She added that the completion is conditional on the preparation of a detailed transport study and an urban study of the area's development. The council's decision still needs to be approved by the assembly at its June meeting.

The preparation of the new proposal will mean a delay of about a year. Ending the preparation and initiating a new amendment would mean a delay of three to four years. The mayor of Prague 3, Vladislava Hujová (TOP 09), sent a request to the municipality at the end of last year to withdraw the proposal, citing the plan to organize a public urban competition on part of the area, which the amendment would restrict, and the acceleration of the preparation for transforming the protected station building into a cultural and social center. The city does not have to comply with the request to withdraw the proposal from Prague 3; preparation can continue with the capital city as the applicant.

The cargo station building has been protected as a monument since 2013. Its owner is Czech Railways. Together with Sekyra Group, they formed Žižkov Station Development, which intends to build on the surrounding land. According to a memorandum between the district, the Ministry of Culture, Prague, Czech Railways, and Žižkov Station Development, a cultural and educational center is to be established in the building itself.

The entire area around the former cargo station comprises about 50 hectares. Eighteen hectares in the northern part along Malešická Street are owned by Central Group, while the southern part near Olšany cemeteries is owned by Czech Railways, which plans to build there through Žižkov Station Development. A valid zoning decision has been issued for the northern part, and Central Group is currently revising the original project by the British firm Discovery Group.