Professor Oleg Golubchikov leads major UN review on housing and urban development in Montenegro

Professor Oleg Golubchikov has led a major United Nations review examining urban development, spatial planning, housing and land management in Montenegro.

Professor Golubchikov served as Lead Author of the UNECE Country Profile on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management of Montenegro, published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

Prepared at the request of the Government of Montenegro, the publication provides an independent assessment of the country’s progress, challenges and priorities as it continues a period of rapid change. It was launched at a high-level event in Podgorica with the participation of  UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean and three Montenegrin government ministers.

Since gaining independence in 2006, Montenegro has seen rapid economic development and has been progressing with European Union accession. At the same time, the Country Profile highlights a series of long-term structural challenges, including regional disparities, informal settlements, illegal buildings, unsustainable urban practices, limited public administration capacity and a lack of affordable housing.

The publication comes at a significant moment for Montenegro, alongside major legislative and policy changes in spatial planning, construction, legalization, regional policy, and housing. These include the Spatial Plan of Montenegro until 2040 and the Housing Policy Strategy of Montenegro until 2034.

Among the report’s key findings is the scale of informal and uneven urban development. Montenegro is one of the most rapidly urbanising countries in Europe, with more than two thirds of its population now living in urban areas. Illegally built structures are estimated to affect up to a third of housing stock, while housing affordability pressures continue to grow.

This has uneven impacts on different regions, with northern areas losing population and jobs, while coastal areas and the capital city experiencing pressures of real estate speculations.

The report sets out practical recommendations to help address these issues. These include establishing funding and organisational tools for regional development and urban regeneration, supporting reforms in spatial planning, accelerating the legalization of informal buildings, improving land administration, expanding social and affordable rental housing, and investing in public transport and green mobility.

Professor Golubchikov said: “It was an honour to serve as Lead Author of this Country Profile, working in close partnership with the UN Secretariat and colleagues from the Government of Montenegro.

“Montenegro is undergoing rapid transformation, but this process remains uneven across its territory and society. The Country Profile offers recommendations to help ensure that economic growth is translated into better and more affordable housing, more liveable, inclusive and attractive cities and places, and more balanced territorial development.

“The publication will also serve as an important source of knowledge on Montenegro for policymakers, practitioners, researchers and wider interested audiences.”

Published in both English and Montenegrin, the report is designed to support policymaking and reform as Montenegro continues to align with European standards.