Modern urban development policy: theories, risks and recommendations for Russia

Abstract

Relevance of the research: modern urban planning policy in Russia creates significant risks in the long term, which include spatially inefficient urban zoning, an increase in the number of personal vehicles and the displacement of public transport, uncontrolled suburbanization and reactionary urban planning policy, a microdistrict approach, etc. In this regard, it becomes especially important to search for effective responses to environmental, social, spatial, economic and other challenges and risks caused by modern urban development trends. The aim of the study is to identify and systematize the long-term risks of the current urban planning policy in Russia, to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the best world practices of strategic urban planning, and the development of proposals for Russia's transition to a sustainable (in relation to long-term risks) urban planning policy. Research methods and methodology: comparative analysis, system analysis, quantitative and qualitative analysis, historical and economic analysis. Scientific novelty: the paper attempts to carry out comprehensive qualitative and value-content analysis of theoretical approaches to sustainable urban development, identify key risks of long-term urban development in Russia and create a mega-index to assess the sustainability of urban development. Results: it was found that by sustainable urban policy we can understand the implementation of such regulatory measures, urban planning solutions, transport solutions, etc. which have a positive impact on the economy, the environment and the social sphere at the same time. However, in the Russian cities, there is a degradation of urban planning and spatial policy, the formation of micro-district multi-storey buildings, within which there is an alienation of a person from the environment and a “reduction of living space”. The fundamental reason is the short-term planning horizon of both city and regional administrations, businesses, and the population. On the basis of the study, the authors propose recommendations for changing the existing urban planning policy in Russia to mitigate the risks of long-term development: gradual implementation of obligatory character for the Standard for the integrated development of territories developed by the Ministry of Construction of Russia and DOM.RF together with KB Strelka; introduction of the urban planning principle -'compact city'; a ban on the development of fields in the suburbs, restrictions on infill development and the transition to complex development; introduction of a moratorium on the construction of high-rise buildings in Russia, with the exception of their construction in special business districts (“city”), within walking distance of high-speed rail transport systems; raising the status and role of urbanists and architects in urban development planning; introduction of a procedure for assessing the long-term impact of construction projects, etc.

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