Sarajevo is expected to receive a new Urban Plan that envisions a different approach to the city’s future development, with a stronger focus on green areas, public transport and the concept of a 15-minute city.
The Government of Sarajevo Canton has established a proposal for the new Urban Plan, which will now be submitted to the Sarajevo Canton Assembly for consideration and adoption.
The drafting of the document began in 2016. During the public consultation process, more than 1,000 comments were submitted. The plan is intended to define the direction of development of Sarajevo’s urban area and establish the framework for future planning and construction.
Faruk Muharemović, Director of the Sarajevo Canton Institute for Planning, stressed that implementing the plan will require the involvement of all relevant levels of government.
“But in order to realize anything from the Urban Plan, all relevant institutions, that is municipal, cantonal, federal, and even state, must be involved, so that the plan does not remain only on paper.”
Among the proposed solutions is the expansion and connection of green areas, including more than 63 kilometers of tree rows. The plan also envisages approximately 250 kilometers of bicycle paths, alongside the further development and expansion of Sarajevo’s tram and trolleybus networks.
One of the key principles of the proposed plan is the concept of the so-called 15-minute city, which aims to make essential services accessible within a short distance of residents’ homes.
Nihad Uk, Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, explained that the concept would allow citizens to meet most of their daily needs within a 15-minute walk.
“Also, the concept is based on the modern approach of a 15-minute city. So, a citizen, in this case of Sarajevo Canton, can fulfill all their needs within a radius of 15 minutes on foot – from health, education, to culture and sports.”
The Urban Plan itself will not immediately change the physical appearance of Sarajevo. Rather, it establishes where and in which direction the city can develop, while specific construction projects and interventions will be defined through more detailed planning documents.
The plan also foresees almost 21,000 new parking spaces, new business zones and the construction of a national stadium.
Following its adoption by the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, the implementation of the plan will depend on the preparation and adoption of more detailed planning documents. Its effectiveness will ultimately be measured by how consistently institutions apply the rules and development principles established by the new Urban Plan.
