site.btaSofia Revises Borisova Gradina Development Plan After Expert Consensus

Sofia's Municipal Expert Council on Spatial Planning reached a consensus to revise the Detailed Development Plan for Borisova Gradina Park, Sofia Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning and Development Lyubomir Georgiev said on Wednesday.

The revised plan will be returned to the designer, updated, and resubmitted to the expert council before being sent to the Sofia Municipal Council for final approval.

The expert council decided to drop the proposal to restore Yunak Stadium, as the site will remain a green amphitheater in its current form instead. One planned underground parking garage beneath Pioner Station was confirmed, while the proposed garage at Kapitoliya will be reconsidered. The designer must assess alternatives, including environmental, transport, and visitor access impacts, as well as existing parking near Vasil Levski National Stadium.

A legal review also concluded that there are no valid private property rights within the park, which is why Sofia Municipality has begun challenging private ownership claims and restoring municipal ownership. The Maria Luiza swimming pool site has already been registered as municipal property, with similar action planned for other parcels. The council also rejected plans to concentrate traffic at the Dragan Tsankov Blvd. - Kiril Vidinski St. intersection. Vehicle access will be limited to emergency services, maintenance, and technical support for events.

Earlier in the day, Sofia residents protested against the adoption of the park’s development plan.