The cities of Russia: some recent trends and experience of regional and urban planning

Abstract

The author examines the recent situation in the development of cities in Russia. Recent trends include a lack of growth and even a decrease in population; extensive economic restructuring; a grave ecological situation in cities; and recent peculiarities in the geopolitical situation and population migration. Due to the new economic, demographic, geopolitical and social situation in Russia it is necessary to re-evaluate the prospects for the development and growth of the big cities in this country. The system of basic documents for regional and city planning in the former USSR and in Russia includes different stages: from The General Scheme for the Settlement Systems of the Country and The Regional Territorial Complex Schemes of Environmental Protection in different regions to the detailed plans for the different parts of cities and towns. The shortcomings of this system and in the process of the realization of the schemes of regional planning and general plans for cities are documented.