The New Planning Practice organization, an expert EU resource center in urban planning, has raised alarms about a proposed residential-commercial development near the Sava quay in New Belgrade. The organization warns that the 78,000-square-meter building project “could endanger the water source”, leading local citizens to demand its cancellation.
The project, which would consist of 532 apartments, 21 shops, and an annexed preschool, is located within the narrow zone of sanitary protection for Belgrade’s water source. The New Planning Practice organization has expressed serious concerns regarding the legal and planning irregularities of the project, particularly its potential impact on the quality and availability of drinking water.
In just one day, more than 300 New Belgrade residents signed a formal objection against the urban development, stressing the risks it poses to the environment and public health. The objection, supported by the New Planning Practice’s experts, highlights the fact that the project is planned in the II zone of sanitary protection for Belgrade’s water source, where residential construction is explicitly prohibited by the Ministry of Health’s 2014 decision.
Furthermore, the objection points to violations of the General Regulation Plan for Belgrade, which forbids new residential areas in this protected zone. The proposed construction also fails to align with the official planning documents, causing confusion and legal uncertainty among the public. The organization claims that discrepancies in the General Regulation Plan’s graphic attachments and the construction rules have only added to the confusion.
The public participation process for urban projects is also under scrutiny, as the New Planning Practice highlights the limited seven-day window for public feedback, with no opportunity for public discussions or responses to objections. This, they argue, severely limits the public’s ability to engage in the decision-making process for such large-scale projects.
Given the potential threat to vital resources and the health of New Belgrade residents, the citizens and experts are urging relevant institutions to carefully consider the objections and prevent the construction of a project that may endanger both the environment and public health. The deadline for reviewing the proposal and submitting objections is just seven days.
