Possibilities of the eco-town concept application: the principles and guidelines for the case study of Jelezovac– Sunčani breg informal settlement, Belgrade

Abstract

This paper is aiming to contribute to the application of goals, concepts and criteria and related to the sustainable urban development and transformation defined and implemented internationally, in the complex setting of Serbia and its capital. Serbia as a country in transition is facing many urban development and growth issues for over two decades intensively. While main principles of sustainable urban development, derived from worldwide and EU legislation, practice and theoretical framework have been rooted in almost any plan or research study related to urban planning issues in Serbia, the implementation and substantial link to the situation-in situ have not been fully achieved. This situation is most noticeable in areas under greatest pressure of urban growth - the areas of informal settlements on the outskirts of major cities, and especially in Belgrade which is the Serbian capital and the largest city. The “ring” around Belgrade is currently consisted of numerous illegal settlements, which basically rely on individual housing development. Some of them are older ones, with more compact structure and with some elements of communal and social infrastructure. Other, newer units have been growing since 1990s, even after 2000, and mainly lack clear urban structure and many attributes of urbanity. On the other hand, such areas are not yet fully built so the urban renewal/redefinition is still possible. Therefore, newer illegal settlements, such as Jelezovac- Sunčani Breg area, are adequate research area for the possible application of new concepts which could greatly improve their livability. Since the phenomenon of illegal housing in Serbia is related to the suburban areas, while keeping in mind that location is a crucial factor in the selection of a research concept, this paper will discuss the concept of eco sustainable development tailored for developing countries on one hand, and the concept of UK eco-town on the other, as well as the possibilities of its implementation. Further, this paper will present the case study of newer illegal settlement at the southern fringe of Belgrade, confronting the goals, criteria and standards of the chosen concepts with the possibilities of its implementation in Belgrade context.