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