FORMALIZING THE INFORMAL IN ALBANIA: POLICIES AND APPROACHES

Doris Andoni – MSc. in Urban Housing Management General Director National Housing Agency Albania

Informal settlement – a model of urban sprawl

Urban sprawl

Characteristics: Single-use zoning; Low-density; Car-dependent communities; Spatial Mismatch (due to job sprawl and

limited transportation)

The disadvantages of urban sprawl

– LOSS OF ARABLE LAND

– DEGRADATION OF FARMER FAMILIES;

The disadvantages of urban sprawl

LOW AIR QUALITY BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION;

The disadvantages of informal settlements

Informal Settlements in UNECE region UNECE, 2009; Self-made Cities

INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS - ALBANIA

Reasons, extension, typologies and policies to address

Source:: INSTAT Albania

Source:: INSTAT Albania

Extension of informal housing in Tirana region

Source: Strategic Plan for Greater Tirana, Feb 2005,ULMP

270000

350000

598000

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

500000

600000

700000

&Tirana population doubbled in 20 years

1990

2001

2011

• Unprecedented Rural-Urban migration led to very high demand for housing • Private sector GDP contribution grew from 10% to 75% (1992 to 1996) • Kamza Municipality (north of Tirana) grew 10-fold (1994 to 2000) • Investment in housing supported by remittances • Informal neighborhoods lacked clear title, basic infrastructure etc.

Tirana – Beginning of transition 1990

Tirana - Since the 1990s

Source: John Driscoll (IIUD)

Source: John Driscoll (IIUD)

Informal Settlements in Albania - Typology

• Informal development are of different typology, based on the level of the violation:

a) Illegal occupation of public or private land . Usually are found in areas without a study, not urbanized, rural areas (case of Bathore, Kamza etc..);

b) Illegal / irregular transaction of land from persons that does not hold a title and construction without permission;

c) Construction without permit on its own land; d) Construction with permit with regular land transaction, but

infringement of the permit - mostly in urban areas; e) Extension of existing buildings without permit; f) Changes in the facades of the existing buildings (closure

of balconies, windows, etc..)

Informal Settlements in Albania - Approaches

Approaches in Albania: a) 1993 – 1994 demolition; b) 1995 – 2003 WB up-grading project; state

ignoring c) 2004 – First law on LEGALIZATION (Investment

in infrastructure through capitalization on land); d) 2006 – A new law – political decision to support

fast urbanization e) 2007 – 2015 the law was amended 8 times

Source: ALUIZNI—(Central Govt. Agency for Registering Informal Areas)

Informal Settlements in Albania – 270,000 self-declarations in 2006

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

90000

100000

IMPACT OF LEGALIZATION

Some achievements of ALUIZNI in 2011

Field survey completed for 178,934 informal objects, qualified for legalization;

Elaboration of technical and legal documentation for 137,000 informal buildings;

Completed the preparation of legalization files for 63,278 informal properties;

Completed procedures for the transfer of land property for 85,700 informal buildings

Completed procedures of compensation for 3,432 owners Completed procedures for transferring the ownership for 300

properties in touristic villages Granted the legalization permit for 8,318 informal buildings;

Only 10% of buildings are legalized between 2006 and 2015

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Number of self-declarations Number of permits issued (until 2015)

Source: John Driscoll (IIUD)

2007

1996

More than 13000 ha of land occupied

Source: ALUIZNI—(Central Govt. Agency for Registering Informal Areas)

Number of self-declaration increased by 8% between 2006 and 2015

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

90000

100000

2006 2015

Increased housing stock

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

300000

350000

400000

450000

TOTAL BUILDINGS FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES

BEFORE '901991-20052006-2011

97%

33% empty homes

13%

Some conclusions Informal urban and housing development

is part of a wider informality Legalization didn’t help to formalize the

system Legalization should be followed with

measures to stop further developments: Demolitions Develop urban plans Simplifying administrative procedures