Vilnius plans to transform a 55-hectare railway district

A 55-hectare railway area in Vilnius could become a new urban district, with the city looking beyond its current railway, industrial and storage functions. Plans call for public and green spaces, business and cultural facilities, housing, jobs and services.

An international competition for the area’s urban vision is expected to open by the end of the year. Organizers will seek ideas for turning the site into a lively part of the city while overcoming the physical barrier created by the railway.

The competition will also focus on building new physical, functional and social links, integrating cultural heritage and keeping the area’s future development flexible. The project covers land between Panerių Street and the railway.

Laura Kairienė, Vilnius’ chief architect, said a strong ecosystem of technology, creative industries and innovation was already emerging in the southern part of Naujamiestis. The task, she said, was to create conditions for that ecosystem to grow while developing a complete urban area with varied city life and new connections to Naujamiestis, Naujininkai, the station and the rest of Vilnius.

Vilnius municipality and LTG agreed in 2022 to cooperate on transforming railway areas and gradually moving activities out of the city center. The municipality began preparing a detailed plan in 2024. The current objective is to create a unified urban vision that can guide future planning decisions.

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In southern Naujamiestis, a strong ecosystem of technology, creative industries and innovation is already emerging naturally, so our task is to create conditions for it to grow through urban planning while also creating a complete part of the city. There must be a diversity of city life here: jobs, housing, services, culture, public and green spaces, and above all, new connections with Naujamiestis, Naujininkai, the station and the rest of the city.