ITN MPs Propose Lifting Height Restrictions Around Sofia Metro Stations,Sparking progress Debate
Sofia,Bulgaria – Members of the ITN party – Ventsislav Asenov,Hristina Ivanova,and Taner Turkoglu – have submitted a proposal too increase maximum building heights around existing Sofia metro stations,potentially triggering a notable reshaping of the city’s urban landscape. The proposal seeks to raise the current 100-meter limit,arguing existing restrictions are “not well founded” and hinder development.
Currently, properties within 400 meters of metro stations in designated mixed-use zones are permitted a maximum height of 100 meters, an increase from the general 75-meter limit established in areas without specific construction restrictions. This 100-meter allowance was introduced in 2018 through amendments to the Law on the Structure and Construction of the capital, with the stated goal of leveraging improved transport access. however, certain areas – Triaditsa, Lozenets, Mladost, and Sunrise – were explicitly excluded from this rule.
The ITN MPs are particularly concerned with properties along Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd. in the Mladost region, which, due to the exclusion of the area, cannot benefit from the higher construction limit despite facing secondary and tertiary streets. They argue extending the 125-meter height allowance to these properties would be a logical submission of the existing norm, and beleive the change should apply to all zones surrounding existing metro stations not specifically excluded.The proposal arrives amidst ongoing public scrutiny of high-rise construction projects in Sofia and concerns about already congested areas around metro stations. Critics point to the rapid redevelopment already occurring in these zones and question the necessity of further increasing building density. Former Chief architect Zdravko Zdravkov previously explained that the initial height restrictions were adopted quickly alongside changes to the general development plan.
