A contract for the development of the Gdańsk Nowe Południe Master Plan has been signed – a strategic document that will set the framework for the development of the southern part of the city along the planned Southern Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway (PKM Południe) line. The Master Plan will be prepared by a Polish-Dutch consortium: A2P2 architecture & planning from Gdańsk and KCAP B.V. from Rotterdam.
The event was attended by: Mieczysław Struk – Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz – Mayor of Gdańsk, Piotr Grzelak – Deputy Mayor of Gdańsk for Sustainable Development and Economy, Sławomir Kosakowski – President of the Pomeranian Development Agency, Paweł Orłowski – President of InvestGDA, and Michał Jamroż – InvestGDA/ARP Project Manager, as well as representatives of the contractor, including: Monika Arczyńska from A2P2 and Jeroen Dirckx, partner at KCAP.
A project on the scale of a new district
The Master Plan will cover an area developing along the new railway line and is intended to become a tool for organizing further development in one of Gdańsk's fastest-growing parts. The document will define principles for spatial development in a functional and sustainable manner, so that residential development, public services, public spaces, and the transport system are created as a coherent whole, rather than a sum of unrelated decisions.
– PKM Południe is the backbone of the future development of this part of the metropolis – says Mieczysław Struk, Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. – The Master Plan is intended to ensure that the investment impulse related to the railway translates into lasting spatial quality and better access to services, not only for one district but for the entire region.
– Gdańsk Południe is currently a place where many Gdańsk residents live – emphasizes Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdańsk. – The construction of PKM Południe is an opportunity to simultaneously improve the quality of everyday life – better connect districts, organize space, and strengthen access to services and green areas. The Master Plan is to give us clear priorities and a plan of action for years to come.
18 months of work and three stages
The signing of the contract formally initiates an 18-month process of planning, analysis, and consultation.
– This is the moment of transition from preparation to real work – says Michał Jamroż, project manager at InvestGDA/ARP. – We are doing something unique in our country: planning the development of a large area „with the railway from the start” – combining spatial, transport, social, and investment decisions in one process. This approach is intended to protect us from the costly „chasing” of infrastructure by development.
The master plan preparation process has been divided into three complementary stages:
- Stage I – diagnosis and development scenarios
The team will analyze the current situation in Gdańsk Południe and the conditions of the planned PKM Południe line. A balance of „what is” will be created, along with a framework outline of what and where can be developed – including needs for public services (e.g., education, care, health), green spaces, and the transport system.
- Stage II – urban concept for areas around the stops
Based on the analyses, specific development concepts will be created for the areas in the closer and further vicinity of the PKM Południe stops. This stage will include, among other things, the arrangement of functions (housing, services, workplaces), principles for spatial design, and pedestrian, cycling, and transport connections between districts and stops.
- Stage III – public space designs at selected stops
The final stage involves translating the master plan's assumptions into more detailed design solutions in selected locations: concepts and designs for public spaces (streets, squares, parks) and their coherence and practical functioning.
– The new PKM line creates an opportunity to give this part of the city a coherent structure with well-designed public spaces, access to services, and a logical transport system already at the planning stage. The Master Plan will be the basis for responsible decisions for years to come – says Paweł Orłowski, President of InvestGDA.
Partnership between the city and the region, and consultations
The Master Plan is being created as part of a partnership between InvestGDA (a company of the City of Gdańsk) and the Pomeranian Development Agency (an institution of the Pomeranian Voivodeship Self-Government). This cooperation model allows for combining the local perspective with metropolitan and regional development goals.
An essential element of the work will be public consultations, conducted in several stages, with the participation of residents, entrepreneurs, and local organizations.
– The scale of this project extends beyond the borders of a single municipality – he emphasizes Sławomir Kosakowski, President of the Pomerania Development Agency. – PKM Południe and its accompanying spatial development are important for the mobility and competitiveness of the entire metropolis. The master plan is to ensure the coherence of development with the strategic goals of the voivodeship and strengthen the region's potential in the long term.
Contractors' experience
The document was developed by a consortium combining local knowledge of conditions with international experience in implementing large urban projects. A2P2 architecture & planning (Gdańsk) specializes in master plans, public spaces, and participatory processes. KCAP B.V. (Rotterdam/Zurich/Paris) is one of the most recognizable European urban planning studios; its portfolio includes co-authorship of the master plan for one of the largest waterfronts in Europe – HafenCity in Hamburg.
– This is a particularly important project for us, the implementation of which will allow Gdańsk Południe to obtain not only a full program of urban services, necessary for comfortable daily life, but also a clear, coherent urban structure – says Monika Arczyńska, from A2P2.
– We bring experience from projects of large scale and high quality requirements. We want the master plan to be not just a document, but a practical tool for investment decisions – adds Jeroen Dirckx, partner at KCAP.
