The Spatial Aspects of the Strategic Planning of a Municipal Raion

Abstract

ABSTRACT The article examines the practical issues of spatial planning in a case where socioeconomic development is implemented at the level of a municipal raion. As a natural resource hub of the “new development” of Russia, Lensky Raion in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is illustrative of this process. It is argued that the historically established socioeconomic space of Lensky Raion should be reconsidered as part of its changing economic specialization. The authors propose several alternative specializations for existing populated areas and describe how the inclusivity of local communities relates to the socioeconomic development of the resource rich region.