| dc.description.abstract | The article deals with the tasks of spatial development of Vilnius and its suburbs as well as with the planning of environment under new circumstances of self-government. The eventual spatial structure of the region adjacent to Vilnius and the functional use of the closest suburb (the green belt) are discussed. The role of formation of the capital’s peripheral centres in the protection of the historical centre and the improvement of social conditions for the suburban inhabitants is considered. The significance of selection of the capital’s long-term spatial model to the resolution of urgent problems of urban development is emphasized. The concrete results of the preliminary study of planning conditions are represented by the following conclusions: 1. The capital and the larger part of the Vilnius district are connected by intensive local economic and demographic links, forming a suburban zone of 5,000 sq.m, in area. This zone, consisting of Vilnius, Trakai and Šalčininkai municipalities, may be called a subregion of the capital. Other district centres, Ukmergė and Švenčionys, form two peripheral subregions that are not so closely connected with the capital. Compared to other largest centres of Lithuania (Kaunas and Klaipėda), the territories surrounding Vilnius are inhabited less density, the role of the neigbouring towns is not very important, there are more large forest areas around Vilnius. The prevalence of natural elements is a distinctive feature of the regions surrounding Vilnius that should be preserved. 2. The idea of formation of the green belt expressed in the second version of “Vilnius Vision 2015” should be considered to be a suitable tool for an implementation of the general layout/environmental strategy of the capital and its closest suburbs. Economic and social factors, distribution of natural elements, and geoecological and landscape variety of the suburbs determine a varying use of land of separate parts of the green belt as well as a sectoral allocation of these parts. 3. Urban development of the city of Vilnius and the adjacent settlements and an improvement of social and economic conditions for the suburban population are among the most important problems common to the city and the green belt. Development of integrated peripheral centres is an effective way to solve them. Such centres would provide jobs, various services, and recreational conditions to the inhabitants of the suburbs and the remote districts of the capital. Furthermore, the peripheral centres would protect the historical centre of Vilnius both against demographic and transport overload and destruction of valuable environment. 4. The structure of the nuclei (central and peripheral) and the green suburban belt could become a future spatial model for Vilnius. Importance of selecting further development landmarks (for the period from 2015 to 2050) is growing under the free market conditions, since prediction of social and economic development of cities becomes more difficult. Any restrictions of a master plan when soluing of current problems would inevitably lead the capital’s development towards the path of temporary bustling and dependence on the attitudes of municipal officials who are changed frequently. 5. In a long-term plan of the development of Vilnius and its green belt, the greatest importance should be attached to the planning of the priority north-western area, the reservation of territories for the necessary structural elements of external communications, an integrated peripheral centre, and transformation of Ukmergės street into the central spatial axis of the capital. The guidelines for Vilnius’ development till the year 2015, detailed solutions concerning the green belt, and a long-term model of the city represent closely interrelated components of the capital’s master plan. | eng |
