Integrated development of territories as an instrument of sustainable urban transformation

Abstract

The article discusses the concept related to the integrated development of territories (IDT), specific features of its legal regulation, and its socio-economic and environmental aspects. It considered as an effective instrument of sustainable urban transformation, as it gives opportunities for the rational and efficient use of all types of resources within the territory and for the potential targeted planning of urban areas with a geographically-oriented approach to cities in directions that correspond to the patterns of sustainable spatial development. An experience of engaging different stakeholders partnership in integrated urban development was studied and recommendations for its adaptation to Russian cities were given. The presented analysis of IDT as a long-term instrument of sustainable urban transformation confirms the relevance of developing a methodology for monitoring, analysing, and forecasting the influence of this factor on regional social and economic development as an interdisciplinary research direction. As a practical application authors have made an analysis of the practical implementing IDT project in the Slavyanka residential area in St-Petersburg, presented development of resources in the expert community on this issue and proposed their own approach, according to which the IDT mechanism should be applied to urban areas. Such research would have a practical value for the purposes of making adjustments to regional integrated development of territories programmes and developing new IDT projects in other residential areas.