Final Green Light for Žižkov Freight Station Revamp: A New Era Begins!
After a lengthy period of seventeen years dedicated to planning, Prague has finally given the green light to the most significant zoning plan change in its history. This development will enable the long-anticipated transformation of the old Žižkov Freight Station into a vast residential area.
During the meeting held on Thursday, city councillors made a decisive vote to rezone the expansive 23-hectare brownfield site, which opens up the possibility for the construction of as many as 20,000 new homes.
After remaining idle since it shut down nearly thirty years ago, this area is now poised for redevelopment.
The approval comes after extensive negotiations between city officials and several investors. A vital requirement for this plan’s success was the establishment of contribution agreements, which obligate developers to fund public infrastructure and amenities in proportion to the scale of their projects. To date, agreements have been reached with all key stakeholders, resulting in approximately CZK 1.4 billion allocated to the city.
A notable player in this development is Sekyra Group, helmed by billionaire Luděk Sekyra, which has plans to construct 3,000 apartments in three distinct phases under the Žižkov City project, situated just south of the historic station building.
According to CEO Leoš Anderle, the entire investment for this project will reach around CZK 25 billion, reflecting the scale of the developer’s significant projects in Smíchov and Rohanský ostrov.
“Our goal is to create traditional city blocks similar to what we developed in Smíchov. We’ve initiated an architectural competition, and the development process will closely resemble that of Smíchov City,” stated Anderle.
Groundbreaking could potentially commence within three years, with the entire project expected to be finalized in about fifteen years. The development will mainly focus on residential units, including a specific portion designated for rental apartments.
Another developer making strides is Penta Real Estate, which is embarking on the Rezidence nádraží Žižkov project.
Created by Benthem Crouwel Architects (from the Netherlands) in partnership with RA15 (located in Prague), this project will kick off with 271 units in its initial phase, which is currently in the process of obtaining a zoning permit. The recent zoning resolution will influence the subsequent phases of the project. In total, Penta is looking to inject CZK 3 billion into this area.
Finep, another significant entity in the sector, will also gain advantages from the rezoning initiative. It plans to construct around 1,200 apartments.
Meanwhile, Central Group, led by billionaire Dušan Kunovský, is already making impressive progress. The company has successfully completed and is on the verge of fully selling out the first block of 389 apartments as part of its Parková čtvrť project.
Furthermore, an additional 372 units are currently under construction, with anticipated completion by autumn 2026. Notably, Central Group’s development has been exempt from the construction freeze and is minimally affected by the recent zoning change, which only pertains to its last two residential blocks.
Overall, Central Group plans to deliver a total of 2,500 apartments across seven semi-closed blocks, along with amenities including a kindergarten, a public promenade, and a 1.5-hectare park designed with green spaces and water features.
