Apraksin Dvor to be redeveloped without major new construction work

2010-06-13

Glavstroy has changed its plans for the Apraksin Dvor project, which involves the redevelopment of a complex of historical buildings in the centre of St. Petersburg. The initial design was prepared by the British architect Chris Wilkinson; the concept involved the demolition of a number of structures on the site and the construction of 70,000 m² of housing, 80,000 m² of retail space, 40,000 m² of hotel facilities and a car park for 2,500 vehicles.
However, the city department responsible for the protection of historical monuments evaluated the project and concluded that, of more than 50 structures, only four can be demolished because they have no historical value. As a result the developer withdrew the initial plan and has already created a new draft proposal. The cost is not yet known, but given the fact that no new construction is allowed and that all structures require restoration, the project cost could turn out to be 20-30% more than the initial estimate of €0.8bn.