Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — In accordance with the resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 11 September 2023 “On Measures to Further Improve the State Administration System in Urban Planning and the Approval of Urban Planning Documentation Development Programs for Settlements for 2023–2027," a system for developing master plans is being widely implemented alongside the development of district planning schemes, city master plans, and detailed planning projects for parts of cities. This aims to foster economic development in the regions in the short, medium, and long term, realize their economic potential, and promote urban planning and entrepreneurial activities.

Since the beginning of the year, master plans have been developed for 14 districts and cities, with plans to prepare an additional 136 plans based on driving directions. Examples of specialized master plans include environmental master plans developed for Samarkand and Bukhara, and functional master plans such as transportation master plans for the Samarkand agglomeration and the city of Tashkent.

The National Center for Climate Change has developed guidelines for khokimiyats (local government authorities) to improve the ecological sustainability of cities. There are plans to increase co-financing for such projects from state and regional budgets. Additionally, there is a task to establish a vertical system for the development and monitoring of master plans.

Master plans are expected to identify opportunities for economic development in regions, types of economic activities with the best potential for regional growth, drivers, promising directions, in-demand services, and priority projects. They will encourage the effective use of existing natural and human resources, including land, support the creation of jobs in the private sector, and create harmonized urban and rural development plans. Emphasis will be placed on state investments and promoting private sector participation.

Diversification of tourism services and acceleration of investment projects, creating more favorable conditions for the development of eco-tourism through the rational use of existing resources and attracting direct foreign investments, as well as creating additional opportunities for entrepreneurial activities, are expected to help ensure employment in remote areas and expand sources of income. According to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated January 12, 2024, No. PP-21 "On Measures to Accelerate the Development of Ecotourism in the Republic of Uzbekistan," the Ak-Tepa Reservoir in the Jarkurgan District of the Surkhandarya Region has been included in the "List of Major Water Bodies of the Republic, Where Beach Tourism and Water Recreation Services Will Be Organized."

With the support of the joint project of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the European Union, and UNDP in Uzbekistan, "Improving Public Service Delivery and Enhancing Governance in Rural Areas of Uzbekistan," master plans and detailed planning projects for the development of eco-tourism at the Ak-Tepa Reservoir in the Jarkurgan District of the Surkhandarya Region have been developed. Comprehensive proposals have also been formulated for legislating the status and content of master plans, qualification requirements for developers, and criteria for selecting priority territorial objects for master planning. Additionally, a draft document, "Guidelines for Developing, Coordinating, and Approving Master Plans for Territorial Development," has been prepared.

The developed master plan for the area of 110.0 hectares and the detailed planning project for the Ak-Tepa Reservoir area include:

- Functional zoning of the territory and planning the construction of engineering and transport infrastructure (automobile transport, roads, sidewalks, bridges, public transport, pedestrian routes, signage, lighting, parking lots, bus stops, engineering communication networks, telecommunications, internal water supply and sewage systems, irrigation systems, road bridges, logistics, electricity, heating, and gas supply);

- Division of the territory into service zones, formation of a list of investment projects, types of services, and descriptions of the objects of the constructed hotel (camping, glamping, eco-houses, cottages, etc.), places for handicrafts, gastronomic food, retail, forestry, tree planting, suspended walkways, picnicking, fishing, quad biking, parachuting, biathlon, kayaking, rental of electric motorboats, and other types of tourist facilities;

- Establishing fish farming based on modern and advanced technologies, attracting valuable fish species;

- Developing a plan of activities for territory development and increasing the flow of foreign and local tourists;

- Developing a detailed plan for implementing the eco-region project, among others.

The joint project has successfully brought together national experts, master plan developers, architectural and urban planning project developers to discuss and review the draft document "Guidelines for Developing, Coordinating, and Approving Master Plans for Territorial Development," as well as the progress made in the development and implementation of master plans.

This draft document, which defines the composition and content of the strategic master plan and the approaches to its development, specifies under what conditions and in which cases they are developed. It serves as a methodological regulatory document to ensure that the concept of the master plan is understood uniformly by a diverse audience and to standardize the development approaches. The document provides recommendations on the content of master plans, their development, approval, and application procedures, considering the unique features of each settlement and territory.

Master plan development is carried out comprehensively, involving citizens, businesses, authorities, and investors, allowing for the consideration of all parties’ interests. Thus, it includes data on recommendations, analysis, and proposals for studying the socio-economic, environmental, and cultural conditions of the region, identifying key development areas such as industry, agriculture, tourism, social services, housing, economy, population, public facilities, transportation, and land use. In urban planning, this ensures the development of concrete steps and measures necessary to achieve the set goals for territory development.