Mindaugas Pakalnis heads the SSVA Urban Planning unit

Plans to establish an institution to ensure and supervise quality urban planning processes started as early as 2022. Following a detailed analysis and discussions with the public, and after the plans were presented to the Seimas Committee on Environmental Protection, the processes were initiated to create a new structure in one of the institutions subordinated to the Ministry of Environment.

The Urban planning unit was established in September this year, following the decision of the Ministry of the Environment to transfer to the SSVA the implementation functions it had been carrying out - the issuance of conditions for territorial planning documents (TPDs) at municipal level, the coordination and monitoring of TPDs, and the assessment of the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SEA) of TPDs.

"Until now, there has been no implementing body to oversee and ensure the sustainable development of urban areas. The new posts will ensure a high quality continuity of the functions provided and the creation of new services. We are delighted that Pakalnis, who has many years of experience in urban planning, will be responsible for the implementation of the Lithuanian urban policy," says Aidas Vaičiulis, Director of SSVA.

The functions of the Head of the Urban planning unit include monitoring the implementation of state-level spatial planning documents, the Republic of Lithuania's General Plan, controlling the elaboration of the General Plan's decisions in lower-level spatial planning documents, and more.

"The professional challenge ahead is serious. I will strive to ensure that the processes and decisions for the implementation of the Lithuanian Master Plan and the preparation of municipal master plans are based on professional knowledge, objective data, and that they assess the challenges of demography, competitiveness, preservation of identity, and protection of natural and cultural heritage for Lithuania's municipalities and cities," says Pakalnis.

Spatial planning documents determine where residential, public, industrial, commercial, agricultural and other areas can be developed and plan the necessary social and transport infrastructure.

As required by law, the suitability of the candidate for the post of Head of unit was subject to verification by law enforcement authorities.

Mr Pakalnis has worked as a project manager at "Vilnius Plan", a Vilnius City Municipality company, since 1998, and as Chief Architect from 2004 to 2013. Since 2016, Mr Pakalnis has been the Chief Architect of Vilnius City and Director of the Department of Urban Development at the Vilnius City Council.