More affordable housing, slow building procedures, the role of developers, and the future of the Metropolitan Plan. These were the main topics addressed at another public debate organized by the Prague Agenda initiative, which took place on 16 June 2026 at the ČTK PressCentre.
Experts, architects, urban planners, and representatives of Prague’s political scene discussed whether the newly approved Metropolitan Plan and the planned amendment to the Building Act can actually speed up construction and improve housing affordability in the capital.
How to Get Construction Moving in Prague
The debate focused on two key questions. Will the new Metropolitan Plan help accelerate the city’s development? And can the amendment to the Building Act remove the barriers that currently complicate the construction of housing and public infrastructure?
The first panel brought the perspective of experts in spatial planning, architecture, and construction legislation. The second panel focused on the experience of municipal politicians and the practical impacts of the proposed changes.
Panel One: The Experts’ Perspective
The discussion was moderated by Jan Macháček, President of the Strategeo Institute.
Panelists:
- Ondřej Boháč – Director of the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR)
- Tomáš Hudeček – former Mayor of Prague and former Senior Director at the Ministry of Regional Development
- Jan Kasl – architect, former Mayor of Prague and Chairman of the Czech Chamber of Architects
- Hana Landová – Government Commissioner for the Implementation of the Building Act
- Zdeněk Völfl – Adviser to the Deputy Mayor for Spatial Development
The participants agreed that the Metropolitan Plan and the amendment to the Building Act represent important prerequisites for Prague’s further development. At the same time, they pointed out that their effects will not become apparent immediately.
Ondřej Boháč emphasized that the new Metropolitan Plan will bring greater stability to spatial planning and reduce the number of changes that previously had to be discussed. Tomáš Hudeček noted that this was a step that should have been taken several years ago. At the same time, however, he pointed out that a decline in housing prices cannot be expected, at most a slowdown in their further growth.
Jan Kasl warned primarily about complications in implementing the new Building Act and potential problems with the functioning of building authorities.
Panel Two: The Perspective of Prague Politicians
The discussion was moderated by Jan Macháček, President of the Strategeo Institute.
Panelists:
- Pavel Dobeš (STAN) – Deputy Mayor of Prague 3
- Radomír Nepil (ANO) – Deputy Mayor of Prague 8
- Tomáš Pek (SPOLU) – First Deputy Mayor of Prague 10
- Adam Scheinherr (Praha sobě) – Prague City Councillor
- Adam Zábranský (Pirates) – Prague City Councillor
- Milan Urban (SPD) – Prague City Councillor
Although opinions differed on the form of the amendment to the Building Act, most participants agreed that the key issue will be the functioning of building authorities and the quality of the implementation of the changes.
Pavel Dobeš pointed out that the adoption of the Metropolitan Plan removed hundreds of long-discussed changes, which could contribute to speeding up permitting procedures. Adam Scheinherr and Adam Zábranský, on the other hand, criticized the accelerated legislative process surrounding the amendment to the Building Act and the absence of a standard regulatory impact assessment.
The discussion also addressed the position of building authorities. Milan Urban pointed to the long-term underfunding of working conditions for officials and the need to strengthen their position and prestige.
Research: Housing Remains the Main Priority
The debate also included the results of a STEM/MARK survey for the Prague Agenda project.
The survey showed that Prague residents view the Metropolitan Plan and the amendment to the Building Act primarily through the lens of housing affordability. People associate the greatest expected impacts of the Metropolitan Plan with housing and transport. With regard to the amendment to the Building Act, respondents most often expect less bureaucracy, faster housing construction, and clearer rules.
Respondents also point to the slow pace of building procedures and excessive administrative burdens. Nevertheless, most do not believe that the amendment to the Building Act alone will significantly improve housing affordability.
Research available for download here
Further Prague Agenda Activities
The Prague Agenda, in addition to regular public debates, also presents public opinion research, podcasts, and expert recommendations for the city.
The Strategeo Institute expects these outputs to contribute to a higher-quality public debate about Prague’s future and serve as a source of inspiration for municipal politicians and candidates ahead of the 2026 elections.
Strategeo publishes debate outputs and research results on its website and social media. The project also includes Jan Macháček’s podcast series, featuring guests from expert, political, business, and cultural circles.
Public debates organized by the Prague Agenda will continue after the summer break.
