An official in Russia signals a major shift in urban planning. At the autumn session, a draft law may be forwarded to the State Duma to embed the concept of a master plan into the Russian Town Planning Code. In time, such documents could replace city master plans nationwide, according to DEA News.
One official described this as a global trend that does not require reinventing the wheel. The goal is a high-level document that shapes the growth of cities, their agglomerations, land use, and regional development.
The rationale is that master plans should be flexible rather than rigid. They would provide vectors for how regions can leverage their potential and would not confine development to a single fixed functionality.
The introduction of a master plan into the City Planning Law would mean that all cities in the Russian Federation would eventually develop such documents. A transitional period is expected, during which master plans and master plans could coexist.
The discussion has involved professionals who focus on urban development, with a recognition that the approach should be comprehensive and well thought out. The aim is to generate broad interest from many regions in master plans. After legislative concepts are fixed, training seminars will be organized on their preparation, alongside hands-on efforts to implement and refine development strategies, similar to regional integrated development work.
There is also mention of related steps that could streamline private housing standards through new frameworks, reflecting ongoing modernization in the sector.