Little BIG glossary of urban planning
/ guide
Spatial and urban plans
Spatial plans
Spatial plans are strategic development plans.
They determine the strategic aims and priorities of the spatial development of the country. They steer the overall social and economic development and protect the natural resources and cultural heritage. The principal spatial plan is the Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia. Decisions pertaining to the preparation of this plan, including the plan itself, are adopted by the highest representative body – the national parliament.
The Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia covers the entire state territory. It is accompanied by the spatial plans of a lower range, which address the smaller territorial units. Those are the spatial plans of:
- the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina,
- different regions throughout Serbia, including the administrative territory of the city of Belgrade, towns and municipalities i.e. units of local government,
- areas of allocated use which territorially belong to different spatial units, and require special regulation:
- with natural, cultural-historical or ambiental values,
- with possibilities of exploitation of minerals,
- with tourist or hydro-potentials,
- for realization of projects established by the Government as projects of special importance
- for construction sanctioned by the state or the autonomous province (and not by the units of local government).
- Spatial plans which define the strategic orientations of interest for the state are the responsibility of the respective ministries and are adopted at the Government level:
- The Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia, regional spatial plans, spatial plans of areas of allocated use,
- Municipality spatial plans (including all urban plans) prepared for inhabited areas have a local character and are under the jurisdiction of the town or municipality – the units of local government:
- Municipality spatial plan (general urban plan, plan of general regulation, plan of detailed regulation).
Spatial plan of the special purpose area – PPPPN
The spatial plan of the special purpose area represents an „exception“ in the division of spatial plans.
All spatial plans refer to the administrative land division i.e. to the territorial units (spatial plan of a certain province, region or municipality). Contrary to these plans, the Spatial plan of the special purpose area refers to the geographic area and areas with a single dominant use:
- a Spatial plan of the special purpose area may include territories of different municipalities and regions.
The Spatial plan of the special purpose area „Fruška gora“ includes the national park which stretches across the territories of different municipalities. This implies that the Spatial plan of the special purpose area „National park Ðerdap“ is hierarchically above the spatial plans of the individual municipalities (Golubac, Majdanpek, Negotin, Kladovo) – these municipalities must coordinate their plans with the plan of the national park which represents a common good for all of them, and not vice versa.
- a Spatial plan of the special purpose area may include a part of an inhabited area (which is already covered by urban plans),
The Spatial plan of the special purpose area by the Sava river for the „Belgrade Waterfront“ project or the Spatial plan of the special purpose area for the National Stadium in Belgrade – in these cases, the difference in the level of adoption of the spatial plans as opposed to the local urban plans gained special prominence. Whereas the urban plans are the responsibility of the respective towns or municipalities, a spatial plan is the responsibility of the republic – the decisions about this plan are made directly by the Government of the Republic of Serbia.
In contrast with other spatial plans, the Spatial plan of the special purpose area may be highly detailed – down to the level of individual plots. All spatial plans have a strategic character, but the Law allows a Spatial plan of the special purpose area to be both strategic and regulatory. This plan sets the large-scale, strategic directions of development (individual plots can also be regulated directly), regulations of construction and parcellation, and regulation and changes of ownership and development. Urban regulation plans reach the „individual plot level“, but the Spatial plan of the special purpose area differs from them as well.
And when it „reaches the individual plot level“ and assumes the role of a regulation plan, as a spatial plan which defines the strategic orientations of interest to the state, a Spatial plan of the special purpose area is the responsibility of the republic, and not the local governments. Unlike the urban plans regulated by the towns or municipalities, a Spatial plan of the special purpose area is regulated directly by the Government of the Republic of Serbia. Namely, concerning a Spatial plan of the special purpose area decisions which reach the level of individual plots may be made at the highest state level, which considerably complicates the inclusion of the local population in the decision-making processes.
As a Plan of the special purpose area is adopted for areas which are in some respects regarded as special (national parks, water reservoirs, corridors, special national interests etc.), preparation of these plans which are deemed important for the whole country should be thoughtful and required by the principal spatial plan, the Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia. However, in accordance with the recent amendments to the Law, a Spatial plan of the special purpose area may be passed only based on a decision by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, without being previously considered by the Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia.