NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS IN REGENERATION OF PUBLIC OPEN SPACE: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS OF IMPLEMENTATION IN THE CITY OF NIŠ

<p>Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly prioritized in contemporary urban planning of residential areas, as they offer sustainable and resilient responses to environmental and social challenges, by integrating nature to enhance climate adaptation, biodiversity, and human well-being. Given their crucial role in enhancing public open space (POS), multiple (re)development projects for residential POSs integrate NbS measures and elements into planning and design concepts. <br />This paper presents the experience of the City of Niš, Serbia, in regeneration of POS within a multi-family residential neighbourhood through a case study. Due to its evolving legislative and planning frameworks that increasingly recognize the importance of NbS in urban development, Niš represents a suitable research polygon. The selected study site is a residential neighbourhood within a large housing estate in Niš, which has recently undergone significant POS redevelopment. This area illustrates both a rare local example of NbS implementation, and the consequences of subsequent intervention that disregarded NbS principles. The paper explores the key factors influencing implementation outcomes, as well as the opportunities and challenges for advancing NbS in the local context. <br />The study finds that implementation is hindered by regulatory and funding gaps. A successful rain garden project highlights NbS benefits, though it requires further support for a long-term impact. In contrast, the subsequent POS regeneration in the neighbourhood without NbS reveals the negative consequences of passive planning, limited community involvement, and non-compliance with strategic goals. The findings highlight the need for a more integrated, participatory and sustainability-focused approach to urban regeneration.</p>