Wrocław 2050 Development Strategy, Future Plans, Urban Growth

With 26 votes in favour, 6 against and 3 abstentions, on Monday, 20 October, Wrocław City Councillors adopted a resolution on the Wrocław Development Strategy ‘Wrocław 2050’.

What is the Wrocław 2050 Development Strategy?

The strategy is a shared vision of the city's future. It is a document that describes what kind of Wrocław we want in 2050 – what values are important to us, what goals we set for ourselves as a community and in what direction we want to develop the city.

The strategy does not say what exactly will be created and when, but it does indicate the principles and priorities that we should follow when taking specific actions – whether in spatial planning, investment, education or climate protection.

Why all this? Thanks to such a strategy, the city can act in a consistent and predictable manner, and subsequent programmes, plans and investments can be linked and complement each other.

What is this strategy not?

Wrocław 2050 Strategy:

It is not an investment plan – it does not specify the construction of specific streets, schools or renovations, nor the dates of their implementation.
It is not a budget – it does not specify how much funding will be allocated to individual projects or from which sources.
It is not a set of decisions – it is not a list of actions to be taken, but rather a source of inspiration and a guide for the direction to take.
It does not solve all problems at once, but it helps to determine what is most important for the city and how we can work together to achieve it.

The strategy is a joint commitment – that we will develop Wrocław wisely, beautifully and safely, with all residents and future generations in mind.

Why does our city need the Wrocław Development Strategy ‘Wrocław 2050’?

The strategy helps to:

plan development in a consistent and predictable manner,
respond to changes in climate, technology and the economy,
improve the quality of life of residents,
attract talent, investors and new residents,
build resilience to crises.

Without a strategy, the city would only respond to current problems. Thanks to the strategy, it is thinking about the future today.

How was the Wrocław Development Strategy ‘Wrocław 2050’ created?

The strategy was not created ‘in an office’. It is the joint work of hundreds of people: residents, councillors, non-governmental organisations, universities and experts from various fields. Their voices, opinions and dreams were collected in consultations, workshops, meetings and events.

We wrote more about the document itself in this article – in the spring of this year, during public consultations, every resident had the opportunity to submit their comments on the Strategy.

The vision of Wrocław in 2050: A blue-green and solidarity-based metropolis developing the competences of the future

What is the vision of our city according to the Wrocław Strategy ‘Wrocław 2050’?

It is a city in harmony with nature – clean air, good water quality and an abundance of greenery are part of everyday life. Rivers and canals form a blue network that criss-crosses the city, and every resident has a park or square within walking distance. The city is climate-resilient and people-friendly – it promotes health, relaxation and quality of life.
It is a solidary and cooperative community – residents feel part of the community, trust each other and care for the city together. Wrocław builds its strength on shared responsibility, mutual respect and a culture of dialogue. It is a city that develops thanks to the cooperation of its residents, institutions, organisations and companies.
It is a European metropolis, well connected to the region and the world. Wrocław attracts people from Poland and Europe and is an important economic, educational and social centre of Lower Silesia. Thanks to its modern transport infrastructure and cooperation with neighbouring municipalities, it forms a coherent and strong metropolitan area.
It is also a centre for the development of future skills – not only those acquired in schools and universities, but also social, digital, creative and civic skills. Wrocław inspires lifelong learning, openness, cooperation and creative action. It is a city that develops people and develops with people – it supports them in being active, sensitive and ready for a changing world.

Wrocław 2050 is a city that combines care for nature, community and human development.

What will Wrocław be like in 2050?

According to the Wrocław 2050 Strategy document, in 25 years:

Wrocław and its surrounding metropolitan area, which covers roughly the former Wrocław Province, will be home to almost one and a half million people,
there will be zero days per year with PM10 and PM2.5 dust levels exceeding the standards
CO2 emissions will be reduced by 80%,
at least 70% of travel will be by means other than car
the city will be safe: collective protection facilities will be able to shelter over 60% of Wrocław's population at any one time,
partial resource autonomy will be achieved on a regional scale – in terms of drinking water, food, energy and heat,
30% of the city's area will be covered by tall greenery, and all residents of Wrocław will have access to greenery within 300 metres,
a high-speed train journey to Warsaw will take less than two hours, and to Prague and Berlin – less than three hours.

Values that lead Wrocław into the future

We are building Wrocław 2050 together, guided by three values: beauty, wisdom and safety. These values determine the way we think about the city's development, make decisions and care for one another.

Beauty

Beauty is not only about pretty buildings or well-kept parks. It is also a beautiful way of life – full of respect, kindness and care for others. It is a smile on the street, working together for the good of the neighbourhood, a clean courtyard and blossoming trees. Wrocław wants to be a city that pleases the eye and the heart, gives a sense of harmony and makes you want to stay. Because a beautiful city is one where life is good – healthy, peaceful and shared with others.

Wisdom

Wisdom is the ability to combine knowledge, imagination and experience. It is thinking about the future before problems arise. It is making decisions with caution – so that they serve people today and tomorrow. Wrocław is developing wisely: it uses the knowledge of scientists and experts, but also listens to its residents, because every voice matters. Wisdom is also lifelong learning – at school, at work, at home, in relationships with others.

Safety

Safety is more than just protection from threats. It is a sense of peace and certainty that the city cares for us in our daily lives. It is clean air, access to good water, stable energy sources, safe streets, schools and homes. It is also social bonds – the awareness that we are not alone, that we can count on each other in difficult times. The safety of Wrocław is a shared responsibility – of the city and its residents.

Strategy objectives

High quality of life in a good space

We want Wrocław to be a city where it is good to live every day – with green neighbourhoods, friendly squares, convenient transport and access to necessary services close to home.

Strong national and international position of Wrocław

We are building a metropolis with a strong position in Poland and Europe – attracting investors, tourists, students and artists. We want Wrocław to be recognised as a modern, open and competitive city – an important centre of economy, science and culture.

A safe, crisis-resistant and climate-neutral city

We strive to make Wrocław a city prepared for the challenges of the future – climate change, extreme weather events and power outages. We want clean air, low CO₂ emissions, access to water, energy and food, and a sense of security for everyone.

Wrocław – a city of healthy residents, mutual assistance and trust

We are creating a city that cares about health and well-being – physical, mental and social. We want a community based on trust, solidarity and mutual support, where everyone can count on help and feel part of the whole.

High quality education and science

We want Wrocław to be a city of good schools, modern universities and inspiring teachers. A city where we learn throughout our lives and develop the talents and skills needed for the future.

A city radiating culture

Wrocław should be vibrant with culture and creativity – a place where art is accessible to everyone and present in public spaces. We want to support artists, build pride in local identity and develop a culture that unites and inspires.

Spatial policy directions – how we want to shape the space of Wrocław

This is one of the most important elements of the Wrocław 2050 Strategy. For the first time, the city's development strategy includes spatial policy directions – that is, it describes how the city's space is to be developed, where new buildings, roads and parks can be built, and how these elements are to be connected to form a coherent and functional whole.

Why is this so important? Because the city's space determines our quality of life. It determines how long we commute to work, whether we have green spaces and shops close to home, and whether our neighbourhoods are peaceful, safe and friendly. A well-planned space means a comfortable, healthy and sustainable city.

What does this mean for residents? A new chapter in the strategy (Spatial Policy Directions) shows a clear direction for the development of Wrocław – how the city's layout, buildings, transport and green spaces are to change. It is a kind of map of the future that will allow us to:

plan investments and new housing estates in a coherent and thoughtful manner,
protect what is valuable – greenery, water, cultural heritage,
improve the functionality and aesthetics of space,
develop a compact city,
ensure convenient access to public spaces and services.

Key assumptions for Wrocław

A compact and complete city – new investments are made where there are roads, transport, schools and green areas. A city of short distances, where most everyday matters (shops, nurseries, parks) can be dealt with in the neighbourhood, within walking or cycling distance.
Greenery in every district – we are developing blue-green infrastructure, protecting areas along rivers, planting trees and creating parks.
Good quality space – we care about aesthetics, accessibility, comfort and the health of residents.
Sustainable transport – we are developing public transport and urban rail, as well as cycle paths and safe pedestrian routes.
Recycling space – we are making better use of what already exists: we are renovating, refurbishing and transforming former industrial sites and vacant buildings.
Balance between development and protection – we plan development with respect for nature, the landscape and the identity of the city.
Coherence with the entire region – the development of Wrocław is linked to the municipalities around the city to create a well-functioning metropolitan area.

What does this mean? Thanks to these directions, Wrocław will develop in an orderly and thoughtful manner. Every new investment – a road, housing estate, park or school – will be planned in accordance with this vision. This will avoid spatial chaos, traffic jams and overly dense development without infrastructure.

For residents, this means:

better living conditions – less noise, more greenery and accessible services,
more order and aesthetics in the surroundings,
better access to public transport,
a healthier and more friendly environment.

Why now? Changes in Polish legislation mean that every municipal development strategy must include spatial policy guidelines. This is an important step: it allows the planning of the city's future to be combined with its actual spatial form. The spatial policy guidelines guarantee that Wrocław 2050 will be a well-planned city – green, functional and resident-friendly.

What will change thanks to the strategy?

Thanks to it, the city's decisions will be:

more consistent and based on common goals,
focused on the needs of residents,
in line with the challenges of the future – climatic, technological and social.

The strategy is already influencing specific actions: the development of blue-green infrastructure, new tram lines, investments in education, support for start-ups, and social programmes.

The implementation of the ‘Wrocław 2050’ Strategy will be supported by ambitious infrastructure projects.

However, their implementation will not be possible without obtaining huge external funds and good cooperation with the provincial government, the national government and state institutions. Below are examples of such investments – among them are also those whose implementation is completely beyond the competence of the city authorities, but which are necessary for Wrocław.

Transport system:

construction of Aleja Północna and completion of the City Centre Ring Road,
Incubation Axis and access to the airport from the west,
extension of the A4 motorway along a new route,
completion of the Wrocław Eastern Ring Road,
integration of Wrocław into the High-Speed Rail and European high-speed rail network,
fast rail connection between the city centre and the airport (above-ground or underground option),
development of the Wrocław Metropolitan Railway,
new tram lines, including to Psie Pole, Maślice, Ołtaszyn, Stabłowice, Gądów, Księże and Jagodno.

Environment, water, energy, safety:

development of the waste management system,
modernisation of the water and sewage network dating from before 1945,
diversification of drinking water sources, including the Jarnołtów Water Production Plant,
development of own production of green energy,
flood protection of rivers and streams (Ślęza, Widawa, Olszówka and others),
support for local food production – protection and development of allotment gardens and urban farms,
new civil protection and safety infrastructure.

Housing, culture, sport:

housing programme – revitalisation of municipal housing stock and construction of new flats,
a new, well-connected central district on Plac Społeczny,
construction of a new sports and entertainment hall.

Commitment. How can each of us do our bit?

The city authorities can implement the strategy within their remit, but full implementation depends on everyone: residents, businesses, non-governmental organisations and universities. Each of us can do our bit:

by choosing sustainable transport,
by caring for greenery and water,
by getting involved in the life of the local community,
by supporting culture and cooperation.

Because Wrocław 2050 is our joint project – a beautiful, smart and safe city.

The slogan of the Strategy: ‘Open to the future – focused on Wrocław’

This is an invitation to work together. We are creating the future of our city together – every day, with every decision, with every gesture of care for the common good.