Aleksandra Wyrzykowska

This article evaluates the effectiveness of Poland’s current mine closure model in promoting the sustainable reuse of post-mining land, particularly in urbanised regions such as the Upper Silesian–Zagłębie Metropolis. A mixed-methods approach is applied, combining archival and cartographic analysis, field surveys, and a comparative policy review. The study examines 81 post-mining areas associated with 20 decommissioned coal mines. Two dominant transformation models are identified: planned redevelopment guided by public–private strategies, and unplanned, market-driven reuse based on opportunistic adaptation. While the system ensures technical and environmental safety via the Mine Restructuring Company (SRK S.A.), it remains weakly integrated with spatial planning policies and often marginalises key stakeholders. This leads to fragmented land reuse, underinvestment, and misalignment with sustainability objectives. A comparative review of models from Germany, the UK, and the Czech Republic highlights the importance of institutional coordination, strategic planning tools, and community involvement. The article concludes with policy recommendations to enhance governance, planning coherence, and social inclusion in post-mining transformation processes in Poland.

The redevelopment of post-industrial sites, particularly former coal mines, presents both challenges and opportunities for sustainable urban transformation. This paper explores the comprehensive process of planning and transforming the post-mining areas of the Coal Mine “Rozbark” in Bytom, Poland – from the conceptual phase, through planning, to implementation. The research, based on archival studies, planning documentation, cartographic analysis, and field observations conducted between 2020 and 2024, identifies financial support, adaptive spatial planning, and cultural heritage preservation as critical success factors. The findings highlight how innovative projects can integrate environmental, social, and economic goals, revitalizing degraded areas while addressing challenges like climate change and urban decline. The case of Coal Mine “Rozbark” offers insights into the sustainable transformation of post-industrial landscapes.

In Poland, for over 30 years, measures have been taken to adapt post-industrial areas, especially those related to mining. One of the crucial areas that needed to be developed was the site of the decommissioned Coal Mine “Katowice”, located in the heart of the Upper Silesian capital. Today, about 56.5% of these areas are redevelop and known as “Cultural Zone”. On the one hand, this example shows how difficult it was to move from concepts to their implementation. On the other hand, it shows how the lack of a unified concept and spontaneous actions can partially lose the site’s potential, despite relative success. This work presents the whole process of planning and transforming the postmining areas of the Coal Mine “Katowice” – from the concept to the planning phase and implementation. Due to the specificity of the research subject and the need for multilevel analysis of dynamic spatial and economic changes in a long-term perspective, the research used: a query of archival, library materials and legal acts, an analysis of plans, project, planning documentation and mine closure programs, cartographic research, field research and photographic inventories.

The transformation of post-industrial areas of coal mines has been going on for over 80 years. Despite years of discussion and various international experiences, effective instruments and best practices for brownfields are still being sought. Today, in the face of rapidly changing social and environmental conditions, it is necessary to rethink the future of coal regions. To meet the challenges ahead, all experiences must be critically analysed and confronted with land development. This paper shows the main directions of decommissioned coal mines areas in the Silesian Agglomeration. For this purpose, it was necessary to identify closed mines’ areas and recognise they present land use. The research is based on a query of archival and library materials, field research, the author’s classification of land use, and cartographic and quantitative research. The study shows that the main direction of land use is industry (about 48.3%) and services (24.4%). Furthermore, until today more than half of the post-industrial land is undeveloped by mining facilities, and only about 7.4% of it is prepared for potential investment.