Niš urban planning: Review of 2040 General Urban Plan and Pantelej bypass

The Niš Commission for Plans is reviewing significant urban development projects, including the new General Urban Plan (GUP) for Niš through 2040 and a contentious bypass project through the Pantelej neighborhood.

Regarding the GUP, approximately 100 objections from citizens and associations have been submitted. Chief Urbanist Lidija Stefanović Nikolić noted that the new plan is designed as a strategic document providing guidelines for lower-level plans, such as zoning for residential and business areas, rather than defining use for individual cadastral parcels. The plan places a new emphasis on environmental protection compared to the 2010 version.

Separately, the Commission will meet on August 11 to address objections regarding the Pantelej bypass. This follows months of local protests and a petition with over 1,000 signatures after the city withdrew an initial solution due to resident opposition. While officials proposed a horseshoe-shaped overpass moved 80 meters from the original route, residents continue to voice concerns regarding ecological risks, noise, and vibrations, arguing that the bypass should be relocated entirely away from populated areas.