Riga Planning Region Working Group Explore PROXIMITIES

On March 14, development planning specialists gathered at the beautifully restored wooden building renovation centre “Koka Rīga” for a meeting of the Riga Planning Region Development Planners’ Working Group. The event focused on the evolution of spatial and development planning in the capital city and its surroundings, while also offering valuable insights into how the PROXIMITIES project is informing and supporting more sustainable and inclusive approaches to urban and regional development.

The day began with presentations on several key areas of planning in Riga, including neighbourhood development, the city’s urban greening plan, mobility strategies, and the revitalisation of the historical centre. These discussions laid the groundwork for the second half of the session, which delved into how such efforts align with and can benefit from PROXIMITIES’ core concepts.

Experts involved in the PROXIMITIES project introduced participants to the project's central theme: the 15-minute city model, which promotes access to essential services, green spaces, and opportunities within a short distance—extending beyond mobility to embrace social and spatial equity. This approach resonated with municipal planners and national stakeholders, who were also introduced to examples of good practices identified through the project.

Among these were locally relevant initiatives such as the revitalisation of Vidzeme Market, innovative participatory budgeting programs in Latvian rural areas, and the Riga Neighbourhood Centre Development Plan, the latter presented by Jānis Ušča of the Riga City Municipality’s City Development Department.

The session concluded with a thought-provoking contribution from Ilona Šavraka, who presented the study “Searching for alternatives to the urban sprawl process: the example of the Riga metro.” Her insights offered a research-based perspective on how spatial processes and urban forms are evolving across Riga and Greater Riga—particularly in the peripheral urban areas that PROXIMITIES seeks to empower and reimagine.

By engaging local experts and stakeholders in rich dialogue, this event helped embed the PROXIMITIES framework into real-world planning conversations, reinforcing the importance of cooperation, knowledge exchange, and sustainable urban development tailored to the needs of peripheral communities.