New municipal housing construction in Czechia from the perspective of social and spatial justice

Abstract

Using quantitative and qualitative methods, the paper answers the question of (i) where in Czechia new municipal housing has been constructed, (ii) what were the motives of municipalities for such construction and (iii) what were its effects from social and spatial justice perspectives. New council housing construction increased the supply of public housing in small municipalities and in peripheral regions. Low construction level was reached in regions with higher housing costs – large centers and their surroundings. New public housing construction was motivated by an intention to support local development, to increase or sustain local population level or to find new use for abandoned buildings in the municipality. New housing construction was only partly motivated by social justice goals to provide housing for those who cannot otherwise afford it. Location of new municipal housing within municipalities and regions without sufficient capacity of jobs and other opportunities is a long-term risk.