Debrecen4U July 14, 2026

Press Release on Development of South City Centre in Debrecen

The launch of a design competition for the development of the southern part of the city is intended to provide the professional foundation required to examine the long-term development potential of an area in southern Debrecen comprising, in part, the former manor fields, the speedway stadium and its surroundings, as well as the site of the former airport hangars that have since been demolished.

The outcome of the design competition will be a working document examining the area’s functions, green space indicators, transport infrastructure and utility networks in the context of the operation of the southern part of the city and Debrecen as a whole.

The competition entries must take social, transport, environmental and economic factors into account in an integrated manner to ensure that the resulting proposal serves the long-term interests of the entire city of Debrecen.

The project aims to lay the foundations for the creation of a sustainable and future-proof urban district that enhances quality of life. To achieve this, the competition is intended to support the balanced integration of residential, employment, educational, commercial, service, cultural and recreational functions, thereby providing the basis for an independent, liveable city centre in the southern part of Debrecen with a strong emphasis on green principles.

The primary purpose of the design competition is to identify potential development directions and gather the professional expertise required to evaluate them. The competition does not involve the sale of land, nor does it constitute a decision on investment or the immediate implementation of any development. Rather, it represents the first step in a complex, multi-stage planning process aimed at exploring possible development options and selecting a multidisciplinary design team with the appropriate professional expertise and a comprehensive approach.

The Ministry of Transport and Investment is participating in the process as a professional partner by appointing the professional lead of the Rákosrendező Masterplan Competition to serve as Co-Chair of the Evaluation Committee. The urban development experience gained through that project will also be reflected in the assessment criteria for the competition entries, including urban structure and townscape integration, architectural quality, accessibility and internal mobility, sustainable transport, environmental and social sustainability, as well as the cost and phasing of the proposed development.

Preparations for the creation of the South City Centre constitute a long-term, multi-stage process aimed at producing a professionally substantiated working document suitable for public consultation. The City intends to determine the future direction of the site’s development only after seeking the views of local residents.

Following the completion of the working document, subsequent stages of the process will involve even broader participation by residents, civil society organisations and professional experts. Professional and public feedback will play a central role in finalising the development concept. The purpose of this extensive consultation process is to ensure that the municipal development plan prepared at a later stage reflects, as fully as possible, the long-term interests of Debrecen and the needs of the local community.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu