Yurko V. Administrative and Legal Mechanism for Urban Planning

The thesis defines, reveals, clarifies and revises the content, essence, features of theoretical and practical discourses of the functioning of the administrative and legal mechanism for urban planning in Ukraine. The concept of the planning function in urban development is formed. Its essence is defined through the conflict dimension of the correlation between "regulatory and actual", where the urgent need to modernise regulatory approaches to ensuring balanced and inclusive development of settlements becomes the main factor for identifying it as an effective tool for making informed decisions, determining priority areas of spatial development, and implementing administrative measures capable of objectifying the existence of an appropriate, flexible and responsive public administration system, which facilitates the creation of viable, fair and progressive social spaces. The author identifies the characteristic features of the administrative and legal mechanism for implementing the planning function in urban development, its tasks and principles. The author summarises that modern urban planning revolves around the trend of "sustainable development", the implementation of which is not a universal concept; instead, it is a set of guidelines that can be adapted to the unique needs and challenges of territorial environments to enable the creation of healthier, more livable spaces, unrestricted by the current interests of various stakeholders. The main legal regulations and documents governing the processes of planning and organisation of urban development activities, as well as the essence of administrative and legal relations objectifying the processes of their implementation are identified. The system of actors involved in urban planning is revealed, their administrative and legal status, administrative procedures and the main form of exercising their powers are characterised. The results of a comparative analysis of successful urban planning in foreign countries are highlighted, and the possibilities of implementing effective practices in Ukraine are analysed. Recommendations for improving administrative and legal framework aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the urban planning function are proposed.