Koncepce politiky bydlení statutárního města Ostravy

The document presents the “Koncepce politiky bydlení statutárního města Ostravy”, a comprehensive policy framework devised by the Statutární město Ostrava and a multidisciplinary team of academics and municipal officials. The authors include Alexandr Nováček, Ondřej Slach, Vojtěch Bosák and numerous co‑authors, reflecting collaboration between the city’s strategic development department, the University of Ostrava and other Czech institutions. The concept aligns with the city’s broader strategic plan fajnOVA (2024‑2030) and aims to address long‑term demographic decline, housing affordability and sustainability.

Ostrava, the third‑largest city in the Czech Republic, faces a population decrease from 327 000 in 1991 to 283 000 in 2024. The policy sets a target to stabilise and eventually grow the population by investing 3 % of the municipal budget annually in public housing for the next 30 years, roughly €350 million. The goal is to deliver about 1 000 new municipal flats per decade, improve the quality of the existing stock, and increase the share of city‑owned housing to support social cohesion and economic resilience.

• Current housing stock: 145.8 thousand dwellings, of which 12 649 (8.7 %) are municipal.
• Vacancy rate in municipal flats: 8.3 % (1 053 units).
• Projected population in 2070: 192 000 (low), 243 000 (medium) or 338 000 (high).
• Household composition: single‑person households have risen from 54 % to 71 % since 1991, reducing overall density from 73 to 57 inhabitants per hectare.
• 46 000 residents have left the historic housing estates since 1991, while 9 000+ migrants (mainly from Ukraine, Slovakia, India, Vietnam) have partially offset the loss.

The concept outlines fifteen concrete measures, grouped under three pillars: (I) support for construction, (II) economic viability, and (III) stability and predictability. Highlights include:

• Creation of a dedicated “Nositel” (lead agency) to coordinate housing policy.
• Annual allocation of 3 % of the city budget to achieve roughly 100 new units per year at an average cost of €3.5 million per unit.
• Comprehensive technical audit (“pasportizace”) of the municipal housing stock to inform targeted renovations.
• Development of long‑term revitalisation plans for each city district, independent of external subsidies.
• Introduction of a tiered rent system (market, affordable, social) with an aim for 25‑30 % of units at market rates to subsidise the other tiers.
• Increase of reinvested rental income from 50 % to at least 60 % to fund maintenance and new construction.
• Adoption of “missing middle” housing typologies (row houses, low‑rise blocks) and transit‑oriented development to raise density without expanding the urban footprint.
• Mandatory inclusion of energy‑efficient technologies (solar panels, heat pumps, smart energy management) in new and refurbished units.
• Establishment of a unified online portal for all municipal housing offers, with an English version to improve accessibility for international residents and investors.

The policy explicitly links housing development to climate goals. New buildings are required to meet high energy‑efficiency standards, and existing stock will be retrofitted where feasible. The anticipated shift toward higher‑density, mixed‑use neighbourhoods aims to reduce car dependence, promote public transport use and lower per‑capita emissions. By integrating renewable energy systems and encouraging “quality in my backyard” (QIMBY) principles, the city seeks to create livable, low‑carbon districts that align with EU climate directives.

Implementation will be overseen by the city’s strategic development office, the newly created Nositel, and the municipal districts. Funding combines the earmarked 3 % budget share, reinvested rental income, targeted EU and national grants, and limited private‑sector financing. The concept is embedded in the city’s long‑term action plan fajnOVA, ensuring policy continuity across electoral cycles. Monitoring indicators include the number of new units built, vacancy rates, energy‑performance scores and demographic trends, with regular reporting to the city council and the public.