River Park 2 nears final approvals as Bratislava waterfront makeover advances

Bratislava’s long-planned extension of the River Park development is moving into its last permitting steps, with separate phases now in formal building proceedings and a redesigned public square set to replace the once-proposed planetarium.

In mid-August 2025, the “Waterside” sector (CPR-A), led by Cresco Real Estate, entered construction permitting, described as the final administrative hurdle before works can begin. The move follows years of preparatory procedures on the former PKO site along the Danube.

At the same time, the adjoining blocks CPR-B and CPR-C—prepared by J&T Real Estate (JTRE) and Cresco through their joint vehicle WOAL—also progressed. Proceedings tied to technical infrastructure for the CPR-B/C buildings have started, and municipal notices indicate that the wider build process for these sections formally opened in September.

A key design change this year is the confirmed shift from a planned planetarium to a new public space named Lanfranconi Square, intended to anchor the eastern part of the site and extend the river promenade with landscaping and amenities. Project materials and reporting frame the square as the focal point for the next phase of the waterfront’s renewal.

Developers and the city expect a phased rollout once permits are granted, with the Waterside/CPR-A component positioned to move first, followed by work on the CPR-B/C blocks and associated infrastructure. While detailed unit counts, parking totals and fit-outs have not been disclosed in 2025 public filings, the scheme is consistently described as mixed-use—combining housing, offices and ground-floor retail—aimed at stitching an upgraded promenade into the existing River Park frontage.

Market context in Bratislava has been broadly supportive for new urban waterfront projects this year. New-build apartment pricing has held firm through mid-2025, with prime schemes continuing to draw interest despite tighter financing conditions. That backdrop, combined with visible site-level permitting progress, suggests a clearer path to breaking ground than at any point in recent years.

With CPR-A in building proceedings and CPR-B/C infrastructure procedures underway, the project team is targeting the issuance of final permits needed to launch construction. The public realm redesign—centered on Lanfranconi Square—remains the most notable update, recasting the former planetarium plot as a landscaped gateway to the river.

Photo: River Park 1, 2010 Completed, JTRE