The Czech government has cleared the way for one of the largest urban development projects in Prague. Around 120,000 square metres of state-owned land near Letňany underground station are to be transferred to municipal ownership – intended for housing and social facilities.
On Tuesday, the Czech government approved the conditions for the transfer of approximately 120,000 square metres of state land to the City of Prague. The plots are located in close proximity to Letňany underground station and are to be used in future for the construction of affordable housing, public infrastructure, and social facilities. It represents the largest land swap to date between the state and the capital.
The land had been reserved since 2019 for a possible government and administrative complex, but these plans were abandoned in the spring. Instead, a new district is now to be developed – with housing, schools, parks, health centres, and workplaces. A further 30,000 square metres in the surrounding area, administered by the Ministry of Finance, can be purchased directly by the city.
The planned neighbourhood is part of the so-called “Kbely–Letňany Metropolitan Area”, one of Prague’s largest development zones. According to the draft of the new city plan, a district is to be created here based on the concept of the “15-minute city” – with block-style development, good transport connections, and more than one third green space. Up to 8,000 new jobs as well as extensive social infrastructure are foreseen.
Another key element of the agreement is the creation of a land reserve for the construction of a modern hospital in the immediate vicinity of the underground station. Through the planned land swap, the state will obtain a contiguous site suitable for such a project.
In addition, the agreement between the state and the city includes a compensation clause: if the value of the land increases within the next ten years, Prague is obliged to pay the difference to the state. This is intended to ensure transparency and responsible management of public property.
With this decision, the way is now open for one of Prague’s most significant urban development projects – the creation of a modern, sustainable district that addresses the metropolis’s need for affordable housing.
