Lietuvos bendrasis planas – nauja šalies raidos vizija 2030-iesiems

Abstract

The master plan for the Territory of the Republic of Lithuania is an important, complex strategic document that sets the directions of the spatial development of the country’s territory, as well as the priorities for its use and protection. Aiming to work with professionalism, transparency and consistency, and to present the results in an understandable manner, a new three-stage (current state analysis, concept, detailing) plan for 2030 is being developed. The current plan has lost its significance and is not widely known publicly or among professionals. The current system is acceptable but in practice, its functioning is not particularly effective due to various political, social and cultural factors, which is why it is sought to strengthen the inter-institutional cooperation between the ministries of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and develop the compatibility of strategies. The development of the new plan begins with international planning guidelines, a model of sustainable development, which integrates the inter-related physical and social into a joint whole. The master plan strategics of many cities may seem to lack a clear vision and visionary thinking; often, the available information is structured in a way that does not attempt to involve the public in the discussion, using the lack of time for publicising as an excuse. At the moment, the Ministry of Environment is holding numerous events, inviting local and international experts, and trying to acquire as many different professional opinions as possible, as well as conducting public surveys. The platform bendrasisplanas.lt is currently active. Lithuania has plenty of urban planning problems: it is an agricultural country with a more 3,4% of its territory urbanised (in this case, the ample natural resources only cause an increase in costs in terms of transport infrastructure), Vilnius has the lowest density among EU capitals and is characterised by a strong lack of public spaces. These problems require solutions compact city solutions. All of this points to a necessity to have a wider view of the concept of urban planning, as opposed to urban design, which is closer to architecture, the design of urban complexes and integration of public spaces.