The Solonytsivka community is one of the largest in suburban Kharkiv. It is a region with significant economic potential, attracting growing investor interest every year. Until recently, however, the community faced the same difficulties as most other Ukrainian territories: chaotic planning, a lack of consolidated data on resources and restrictions, the complexity of analysing investment requests, conflicts in land use, and related problems in architecture and urban planning.

Andrii Lytvynov, Mayor of Solonytsivka, talks openly about the initial situation, ‘We knew the community was developing quickly, but making decisions without reliable data is always risky. We needed a system that would provide a complete picture.’

The Comprehensive Spatial Development Plan is just such a tool – a cutting-edge document that combines land management and urban planning documentation. This gave the community a unified overview, from land titles to planning decisions, zoning, restrictions, engineering infrastructure and area development scenarios.

 

Andrii Lytvynov, Head of the Solonytsivka community, and Svitlana Yakovenko, Head of the Land Relations Department, examining the current state of the territory during the development of a comprehensive spatial development plan

 

Svitlana Yakovenko explains, ‘Previously, urban planning and land management existed in parallel, which complicated decision-making. The comprehensive plan brought this data together for the first time, enabling us to work in a more systematic way.’

The document helped to synchronise all kinds of information, including cadastral data, urban planning documents, actual land use, engineering networks, transport and environmental and nature protection restrictions. This clarified any discrepancies, sped up approvals and reduced risks for investors. A team from the Association of Land Management Specialists of Ukraine developed the comprehensive spatial development plan as part of a subgrant entitled ‘Assistance to communities in the Kharkiv region in organising effective land management’. The project was implemented with the support of the American people through the Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities (AGRO) Programme, which was run by Chemonics International.

 

Handover of materials for the comprehensive plan of the Solonytsivka community and signing of acceptance and handover documents by Andrii Lytvynov, Head of the Solonytsivka community, and Anatolii Poltavets, Project Manager (Kharkiv, 30 October 2025)

 

The economic benefits of comprehensive planning are already evident and measurable. In Berezivske, for example, an 80-hectare site has been earmarked for a logistics centre. This project could generate over UAH 9 million annually for the community budget and provide approximately 700 jobs. In the village of Protopopivka, plans are in place to establish an organic fertiliser production facility on 5.8 hectares, which is expected to generate over UAH 900,000 in revenue and create around 50 new jobs. In Peresichne, 0.4 hectares have been earmarked for shopping centres, which could generate around 100 jobs and over UAH 1.1 million in annual revenue. These projects are the result of a systematic approach involving spatial analytics, clear zoning, consideration of architectural requirements and a comprehensive assessment of the areas' potential, rather than random decisions.

 

Andrii Lytvynov and Anatolii Poltavets (Kharkiv, 30 October 2025)

 

Today, the comprehensive spatial development plan is much more than just a document. It forms the basis of a new approach to land management, replacing chaotic decisions with predictable strategies, paper archives with digital systems, and isolated responses to appeals with systematic development.

‘We can see that the community is progressing. Most importantly, we now have a tool that enables this process to be carried out confidently, quickly, and professionally,’ emphasises Andrii Lytvynov.

The comprehensive plan has demonstrated that with data, strategy and a dedicated team, complex challenges can be transformed into new opportunities for community, business, and personal development.