Developer Penta Real Estate has made progress in the preparation of the Southbank project and entered the environmental impact assessment, reports Yimba.sk. The key owners, the developers J&T Real Estate and Penta Real Estate, are planning to build a new mixed-use zone near the Danube Embankment in Bratislava.
Southbank is part of the large-scale planned urbanisation of the area, defined by the Old Bridge, the Danube Embankment, the Port Bridge and Einsteinova Street. In official documents, it is referred to as the City Center (CMC) of Petržalka, which well expresses its future character.
The second-named developer entered the territory in 2022 when it took over the land from HB Reavis. It immediately organised an international urban-architectural competition, in which several top international offices participated. A team consisting of Snøhetta, Studio Egret West and Gro architekti prevailed.
The submission of documents to the Ministry of the Environment was preceded by several months of preparation, which resulted in various studies of the area (noise load, effects on air quality, traffic load and examination of the effects on the neighbouring system of protected areas NATURA 2000). The project wants to preserve some older trees in the area, and plant urban meadows and vegetation that will allow the movement of amphibians. Invasive vegetation is to be removed, birds are to be protected in the form of nesting boxes and measures against collisions with buildings, and some of the felled trees could be transferred to the nearby Owl Forest, where they will provide a refuge for insects. The measures respond to opposition to the project from the public, including experts. According to them, precious ecosystems will be destroyed, and replaced by banal and exclusive buildings. Penta Real Estate must therefore prove that the opposite is true. Despite the limitations given by the proximity of the inundation area of the river or the Soví les protected area, the developer is well aware that it has at his disposal one of the most lucrative areas in Bratislava. The district will combine approximately 900 apartments and 85,000 sqm of office and retail space.
Penta Real Estate estimates the total implementation of the development to take approximately ten years, depending on the market situation, although the documentation states the year of completion is 2041. The first stage is to start construction by the end of 2026. The costs are estimated at €370 million.
