Spatial planning

It is the highest strategic planning document in the country. It contains the main objectives and principles for the development of the entire territory of Slovakia. It describes in words and maps what the territory of our country looks like and within what rules to further develop it in the social, economic and environmental spheres. It deals with buildings, areas and territories of national importance, ecological, cultural, infrastructural, defensive and others. Its binding part also applies to other levels of land-use plans (regions, micro-regions and municipalities).

"The Concept of Territorial Development of Slovakia is the land-use planning documentation of the entire territory of the Slovak Republic, which determines the main directions of comprehensive development of the Slovak Republic. It establishes the basic conditions and creates the preconditions for sustainable territorial development of the Slovak Republic and its regions, determines the framework requirements of the state in terms of protection, restoration and creation of landscapes, nature protection, protection, preservation and development of historical and cultural heritage, economic and social development, defense and security of the state and in terms of compliance with international obligations in the field of environment and territorial development.“ (§ 19 Act no. 200/2022 Coll.)

The spatial plan of a region is the second level of planning of spatial development – after the KURS – and is approved by the respective self-governing region. The purpose of the region's spatial plan is to capture regional specifics that are significant and common to the whole region. Thus they cannot be dealt with separately by municipalities and cities. The regional spatial plan includes areas of historical, natural, and cultural significance that need to be protected and developed as a region.

„The concept of spatial development of the region is the spatial planning documentation of the region within the scope of the territorial district of the self-governing region, taking into account the protection of the environment, landscape and cultural specificities and the specificities of the territory of the region, while fulfilling the prerequisites for sustainable territorial development and landscape creation of the region.“ (§ 20 Act no. 200/2022 Coll.)

Its justification lies primarily in the cooperation of neighboring towns and villages, the so-called micro-regions, which should be able to agree on the development of bordering territories. In this way, harmonious transitions are formed between the borders of towns and villages, whether along roads, cycle paths or in common cultural, historical or tourist areas. It is a breeding ground for cooperation in the development of territories that go beyond the borders of municipalities, but do not reach the significance of the entire region.

„The land-use plan of a microregion is the land-use planning documentation of a coherent spatial and functional part of the territory of a region or several regions at common borders, based on the needs of the territorial development of several municipalities or other specific territory, in particular from the point of view of the environment, the protection and creation of landscapes, the protection of historical and cultural heritage, the development of the economy and tourism, while fulfilling the conditions for sustainable territorial development and landscape creation of the microregion.“ (§ 21 Act no. 200/2022 Coll.)

It is the most important document, on the basis of which a municipality or city develops its territory. It describes in maps and in words, which part of the territory serves what purpose and according to what rules it is further developed. Where roads and infrastructure lead, where residential, work, commercial, production or recreational areas are located. It is approved by the council and takes into account the needs of the people who live and work in the territory. If the territory of the municipality is entirely contained in the land-use plan of the microregion, the municipality no longer needs to create its own plan. Bratislava and Košice, as our largest cities, have so-called metropolitan land-use plans that take into account the specific and very diverse development needs of large cities.

„The land-use plan of a city or village is the land-use planning documentation of the territory of a municipality in accordance with the Concept of Territorial Development of Slovakia and in accordance with the Concept of Territorial Development of the Region. The municipality is obliged to have a land-use plan; this obligation ceases if the entire territory of the municipality is part of the territorial plan of the microregion. The land-use plan of a city is called the city's land-use plan. The land-use plans of the capital of the Slovak Republic Bratislava and the city of Košice are called the metropolitan land-use plans.“ (§ 22 Act no. 200/2022 Coll.)

The land-use plan of a city or village is followed by a zoning plan. It is a very detailed description of a selected location within the city or municipality. It is crucial for the development of the territory, because it specifically and in detail determines the parameters of how to functionally use the land, how to spatially arrange the buildings, what conditions to meet to protect the nature and culture, how to develop the character of the territory, how to provide services to citizens tied to the territory and to preserve or improve the state of the environment.

„The zoning plan is the land-use documentation of a comprehensive spatial and functional part of the territory of the municipality. In accordance with the development objectives and requirements specified in the assignment, the zoning plan establishes detailed conditions for spatial arrangement and functional use of individual spatial-functional units and land.“ (§ 23 Act no. 200/2022 Coll.)