Mitigating the effects of facility decline at the local level through spatial planning: A case study of the Municipality of Knjaževac, Serbia

Abstract

The main challenge for spatial entities facing irreversible adverse development processes (e.g., depopulation, economic decline, reduced accessibility to services) is managing the consequences through a planned approach rather than passive observation. Public services, such as healthcare, education, and culture, are essential for maintaining quality of life and represent a fundamental human right. In many areas, facility closures are inevitable, and planning is necessary to mitigate their negative impact on the local population. Our research examines how to approach this issue through the lens of the Serbian national legal and planning framework, using the spatial plan of a local self-government unit as a foundation for defining spatial development policies. We explore the potential of mathematical models for optimising spatial solutions to minimise the negative effects of public service facility closures. Focusing on the network of primary healthcare facilities, the results for the selected research area show that it is possible to maintain accessibility through spatial reorganization, even with the closure of one-third of the facilities. In contrast, alternative solutions would yield less favourable outcomes, highlighting the importance of planned intervention in ensuring equitable access to essential services