The first consultation for the Sustainable Urban Development Strategy (SUDS) of the Municipality of Orestiada was successfully completed on Monday, May 15, 2023.
In the presence of the Mayor of Orestiada, Mr. Vasilis Mavridis, and the municipality’s project team, the company Lever – Development Consultants S.A., a member of the Samaras & Partners Group, had the opportunity to inform the local community about the importance of shaping a comprehensive strategy, emphasizing the significance of bottom-up processes in planning (from initial to final stages).
Among other things, the audience was informed about the SUDS drafting process, funding characteristics, eligible expenses, and the ways in which local stakeholders could contribute to the integrated planning for sustainable development.
A large number of stakeholders, opposition representatives, citizen groups, and ordinary residents participated in the event, highlighting the importance of this plan for the area.
Cities are complex systems that must continuously face numerous challenges related to climate change, ensuring a high quality of life for citizens, environmental protection, and more.
The EU, recognizing that cities play a pivotal role in many contemporary issues and can also be a source of solutions, has included in its policy goals (PG) for the period 2021-2027, PG 5: “A Europe closer to its citizens,” aiming to promote sustainable and integrated development of urban, rural, and coastal areas, and to support local initiatives.
The Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, specializing this particular Policy Goal, has incorporated the concept of Integrated Territorial Development into the priorities of its new Regional Operational Program (ROP).
Key territorial tools for achieving the above are Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI, ITI-SUDS). More specifically, SUDS:
- Concern urban areas with provisions for integrated urban interventions from the Regional Spatial Frameworks
- Are implemented either in areas with problems that need to be addressed comprehensively or in areas with significant development potential that can be utilized and maximized
- Have a comprehensive strategy with measurable results (using appropriate indicators)
- Are designed based on a proper identification of local development needs and participatory processes (addressing the most important needs).
