Master Plan for a Small City: Experience of Preparatory Sociogeographical Research (Case Study of Bezhetsk, Tver Oblast)

A new type of urban planning document—a master plan that includes both socioeconomic and spatial aspects of urban development—is increasingly being discussed in Russia. The article is devoted to the experience of preparatory socio-geographical research, which was carried out for the master plan of a small city in Tver oblast. The advantages of the geographical approach are revealed, which lie in complexity and multi-scale nature. The example of Bezhetsk shows how geographical concepts and ideas can be implemented in strategic spatial planning activities. Despite the fact that Bezhetsk is a small town, it is a well-defined inter-district center in the northeastern part of Tver oblast. In addition, one of the largest investment projects in the region in the field of livestock farming is being implemented in the city and its district. All this makes the development of a master plan for the city relevant and timely. The article proposes a scheme for preparatory research and identifies two frames of analysis—external and internal. The external frame includes general issues of the functioning and development of the city: analysis of its role in the regional settlement system, features of the economic and geographical position and analysis of the current socioeconomic situation. The internal frame is associated with the features of the internal structure of urban space. With the help of expert interviews and a population survey, the main urban problems and prospects for the city’s development have been identified. Particular attention is paid to studying the ideas of schoolchildren and students about Bezhetsk. The paper shows how a list of priority urban development projects is formed on the basis of a preparatory study. In particular, in Bezhetsk, this list includes projects for the development of social infrastructure, tourism and the agro-industrial complex. The implementation of these projects will help strengthen inter-district functions and stabilize the city’s economy.

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