LEGAL AND SPATIAL CONDITIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL LAND PROTECTION AMID THE EXPANSION OF SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY FROM CENTRAL POLAND

Abstract

As a result of decades-long suburbanization, rural areas surrounding regional cities have experienced increasing pressure from residential development. The phenomenon of rapid suburbanization, commonly referred to as urban sprawl, is characterized by dispersed, often poorly coordinated development in peri-urban areas, which may contribute to the loss of agricultural land and the fragmentation of rural space. The study focuses on the development of single-family residential buildings on agricultural land and the resulting spatial relationship between residential development and agricultural land with high production potential. The analysis considers environmental, social, economic, and spatial planning conditions, as well as the legal framework, with particular attention to the Act of 7 July 2023 amending the Act on Spatial Planning and Development and certain other acts. The study also includes a review of domestic and international literature and planning instruments used in selected European countries to protect agricultural land and limit the uncontrolled expansion of residential development. The empirical part of the study examines the draft General Plan of the municipality of Cegłów, with particular emphasis on the spatial relationships among areas designated for potential residential development, the existing settlement structure, and agricultural land with high production potential. The results identify potential spatial conflicts between residential development and the protection of agricultural land and provide a basis for assessing the proposed planning solutions.