Spatial Planning as a Land-Use And Building Regulation Tool for Protected Natural Areas in Serbia

Abstract

Urban planning in Serbia sets the land-use and building rules and conditions but limited on urban settlements and potentially on touristic centres in protected areas, particularly in the mountains. The land-use and building regulation outside of urban areas is, therefore, dependent on spatial plans of various purposes and territorial embracement. As monitoring over irregularities in building and absolutely spontaneous construction in sparsely populated areas is more difficult than in cities, countryside and nature protected areas in Serbia remain fragile and endangered by quality decrease or devastation of their landscape values, identity and nature protection. This research will present problems and challenges in spatial planning when it comes to collision between building and nature protection. In relation to it, the article will reveal measures contained in spatial plans in order to regulate building outside of cities by taking Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia 2010-2020 as the base, and particularly four special purpose area spatial plans prepared for nature protected areas as case studies. Thus, besides the goal to show diversity and systematisation of existing measures in nature protected, this research will also contribute to understanding of challenges and bring up recommendations about future improvements of methodology in planning and implementation of plans in order to more successfully balance between development and protection.