Apartments at Borba location and Transversal from Prokop to city center – Here’s what else 2nd phase of amendments to GRP for construction area of Belgrade brings

The City of Belgrade has announced an early public review for the purposes of drafting amendments to the general regulation plan for the construction area of the seat of the local government unit - the City of Belgrade (sections I-XIX), (phase II - stage 1).

The document, drafted by the Urban Planning Institute of Belgrade and commissioned by the Belgrade Land Development Public Agency, represents the basis for the future development and regulation of the entire construction area of the capital.

This phase covers an area of over 51,000 hectares, including all 17 Belgrade municipalities - from the city center to suburban areas.

The goal of the plan amendments, as can be read from the document, is modernization, harmonization with the new legislative framework, integration of all previous plans and preparation of Belgrade for projects such as EXPO 2027 and further development of the subway system.

The document brings a series of specific new projects, zones and infrastructure solutions that will change the urban landscape of Belgrade in the coming years.

Key new features

Compatibility of uses

The plan defines that within the dominant use of commercial facilities, business zones can be planned as compatible uses.

It also allows the repurposing of all public purposes, not just public service facilities and complexes and areas for sports facilities and complexes, “exclusively through the development of a detailed regulation plan, with the consent of the competent institutions.”

Traffic and infrastructure

When it comes to traffic and infrastructure systems, the most significant innovation is the creation of new traffic corridors and connections, along with the redefining of the rules for the future subway system.

The most interesting thing in this section is the mention of the Transversal, which will connect the Prokop rail station with the central part of the city, and which was already planned earlier.

Namely, the idea of a transversal has existed since 2016, but was undefined. Now, for the first time, it is practically gaining the status of an official city road, with a precise position and inclusion in the subway network.

The plan also mentions the previously announced “Park & Ride - South Station” system at Autokomanda, with a large parking lot, bus stop and a footbridge connecting intercity and city transport.

The document also mentions two previously announced tunnel sections: under Autokomanda (direction Banjica–Slavija) and the second as part of the Inner Highway Half-Ring (T6 - Careva cuprija – Tabanovacka Street). Let us remind that, two years ago, it was announced that the city was considering abandoning the tunnel under Autokomanda due to complications and that the project was stalled, and then this year Mayor Aleksandar Sapic “pulled it out from the archives.”

The plan also states that a new pedestrian and bicycle corridor is planned from Omladinskih brigada Street to the new bridge over the Sava River, connecting blocks 70–72 with the future bridge at Bezanijski zimovnik.

New public and green spaces

The plan also envisages several completely new parks and the development of the waterfront: a park in Bregalnicka Street (Vracar), and then also in Partizanske avijacije Street (Bezanijska kosa) and Dobriniceva Street (Banovo brdo).

A recreational zone with bicycle paths, plateaus, viewpoints and urban furniture is planned for the Sava and Danube riverbanks.

The area in the XII complex, where the EXPO 2027 panoramic balloon is planned to be installed, is also highlighted.

Term “green infrastructure” to be introduced

The document brings another new feature - by introducing the chapter “Rules and guidelines for green infrastructure,” the term “green infrastructure” is systematically introduced into the Belgrade Urban Development Plan for the first time, with explicit rules on its mandatory application.

– Development and construction must be planned and designed in a way that increases the city’s resilience to climate change, through the retention and infiltration of rainwater, greening of surfaces, the use of permeable materials and the introduction of ecological corridors. The term green infrastructure includes a network of green areas, tree-lined avenues, green roofs and facades, as well as protective belts along roads and municipal infrastructure facilities – the document states.

In the section “Protection and improvement of environmental quality,” the document states that when planning and implementing new urban areas, it is necessary to provide measures for adapting to climate change, in accordance with the national strategy and plan for adaptation to climate change.

Public services and institutions

The plan also brings several important innovations:

The expansion of the Geoinstitut scientific and research complex (12 Rovinjska Street) is planned, the National Bank of Serbia (17a Nemanjina Street) is planned to be an area for public use instead of a mixed zone, and a particularly significant change is the one pertaining to the location of NIP “Borba,” which is listed in the plan at 7 Decanska Street (although NIP “Borba” is at 7 Nikola Pasic Square).

– In Unit I, the location at 7 Decanka Street - NIP “Borba,” which is defined in the graphic attachment as a cultural institution (J9) - will be repurposed into areas for a mixed city center in the Belgrade city center zone (M1) – this document states. So, apartments, and shops.

It is added that the construction rules and the method of implementation for the aforementioned complex will be defined in the Draft ID GRP BGD (phase II - stage 1), in accordance with the conditions of the competent institutions, the plan states.

Housing and mixed zones

Within the housing area, the plan envisages new residential areas in Nikolaja Rimskog Korsakova Street (Bezanijska kosa), Avalska Street and Lickih brigada Street (Zuce, Grocka), a new planning zone in Beli Potok and the transformation of part of Banovo brdo (Vidakoviceva–Ljeska–Karposeva streets) into a multi-family housing zone.

At the same time, several locations in Mirijevo, Gucevska and Tabаnovacka streets will receive the status of mixed urban centers.

Religious buildings and complexes

A new complex of the church of St. Martyrs of Faith, Hope, Love and Mother Sophia is planned in the Nova Galenika settlement, and then also a new complex of the church of the Most Holy Mother of God, Vojvodjanska Street in Surcin and a new complex of the Orthodox chapel in Dedinje in Velislava Vukovica Street.

The plan is available for early public inspection until November 27.

B. P.

Grad Beograd

JP Direkcija za građevinsko zemljište i izgradnju Beograda

JUP Urbanistički zavod Beograda

Narodna banka Srbije Beograd

Geoinstitut Beograd

NIP Borba 7 Dečanska Street

Transversal Prokop city center

tunnel beneath Autokomanda

tunnel Section T6 Careva ćuprija Tabanovačka Street

panoramic balloon

amendments to the general regulation plan of construction area of Belgrade

early public review

green infrastructure

NIP Borba