The consultation process regarding Nowy Wełnowiec has come to an end. From May 2025 to June 2026, residents of Katowice and representatives from various communities shared their views on the future of this area. The key conclusions from these discussions have been compiled in a report, which will be used in further work on the project. The comments and recommendations submitted will be analysed to determine whether they can be incorporated into the subsequent stages of planning and implementing Nowy Wełnowiec.
What kind of space does the local community need? What should be included in Nowy Wełnowiec? How can the character of this place be preserved whilst creating a new, well-functioning part of the city? Answers to these and many other questions were sought during the public consultations, which ran from 6 May 2025 to 26 June 2026.
Residents of Wełnowiec-Józefowiec and other parts of Katowice, community organisations, neighbourhood councils, local councillors, experts, senior citizens, young people and students from the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice were all involved in the process. Discussions took place during meetings and workshops, local events and online consultations. Opinions and ideas could be submitted, amongst other places, during Wełnowiec Days, the Silesian Fair, neighbourhood events and the BioBazar.
What did the consultation reveal?
The feedback gathered shows that, above all, green spaces, attractive public spaces and the opportunity for the entire local community – not just those who will live here in the future – to enjoy the new part of the city are important.
Among the most frequently mentioned needs were places for rest and recreation, sports facilities, spaces for children, young people and older people, and venues for local events and community initiatives. Participants also highlighted the development of services, retail and F&B that meet the day-to-day needs of this part of the city.
A great deal of attention was paid to green spaces and solutions related to the city’s adaptation to climate change. The plan to allocate around 10 hectares to green and recreational spaces, including 4 hectares for a central park, was viewed positively. The project also provides for squares, open spaces, flower meadows, lawns, woodland areas and ponds, which are intended to create a diverse system of green spaces and places for relaxation.
Traffic management was also a key issue. Participants in the consultation highlighted the need for convenient and safe walking and cycling routes, as well as spaces where cars do not dominate over other modes of transport. In Nowy Wełnowiec, car traffic will be completely relocated from public spaces to level -1. As a result, the ground-level area will be able to serve as a friendly, publicly accessible space – featuring greenery, meeting places and facilities that encourage active travel.
A modern neighbourhood that honours its heritage
The topic of local identity and the preservation of the area’s industrial heritage also featured prominently in the consultations. Particular attention was paid to the Compressor House – a historic building which will be preserved and revitalised.
Participants in the consultations recognised its potential to become an open space for social, cultural and educational activities, as well as a venue for preserving and showcasing the area’s history. In the first phase of the project, the Compressor House will serve as a sales office and a venue for activities for the local community.
Questions were also raised regarding environmental issues, transport links, site preparation and the development’s impact on the immediate surroundings. Discussions centred, amongst other things, on traffic management, public transport, the number of parking spaces and the management of excavated soil. During the meetings, the project team and invited experts presented information on the environmental studies being carried out, the preparatory work and the measures designed to minimise the project’s potential impact on the surrounding area.
From consultation to implementation
Public consultation was one of the elements of preparing Nowy Wełnowiec in accordance with BREEAM Communities standards. The project has already been awarded BREEAM Communities Interim certification, confirming compliance with requirements relating to, amongst other things, sustainable development, quality of space and community engagement.
The publication of the report marks the end of the consultation phase and the start of the next stage of work on the project. Nowy Wełnowiec has been divided into four areas, which will be developed in phases. The first phase will focus on the central, 7-hectare section, which will ultimately feature residential buildings, services, retail, catering, educational and leisure facilities, as well as part of the central park.
The Capital Park Group has begun the process of selecting a main contractor for the first phase of the development. This involves the construction of the first three residential buildings, comprising over 230 flats, together with the necessary supporting infrastructure, as well as the renovation of the historic Compressor House. The developer plans to finalise the selection of the contractor by the end of 2026 and then proceed with the construction work.
UrbanKGK, a firm specialising in participatory processes and the analysis of the social context of developments, was responsible for preparing and conducting the consultation process. Also involved in the process were a team from the Capital Park Group, architects from JEMS Architekci – the authors behind the Nowy Wełnowiec urban concept – as well as experts from Investeko, who provided support for the project on environmental issues and site preparation.
