Contribution to the development of a spatial planning method to reach no net land take

The Master thesis discusses the role of soil in the process of urbanization. The basic guideline in planning has become a sustainable spatial development and reduction of consumption of natural resources as also no net land take by 2050. The quality aspect of the soil will be needed to be incorporated into spatial methodology with relevant indicators. This derives from the assumption that soil is limited resource. This direction are adapted also spatial development objectives by providing a quality living environment, densification of the city, the coordinated development of urban areas and rational use of natural resources. In Europe and Slovenia encroachments of urbanization have not been in proportion to population growth in the past decades. Building space areas have increased mainly due to sealing of farmland. Despite their legal protection and appropriate spatial development objectives. Negative effects of excessive sealing have arrised, especially in large urban areas.\ud In this thesis we verify the claim that it could be possible to steer sustainable spatial development taking into account the needs of development and eventually reach no net land take. With this process we could preserve as much natural undeveloped land as possible with satisfying all development needs of the city. Residential standard is thus maintained, as also proper circular concept of economic and overall sustainable development. The thesis for this purpose connects pedological evaluation of soil with spatial development. The main study investigates availability and suitability of methods of soil quality evaluation in terms of possible incorporation into spatial planning system. As the most methodological and data suitable Urban-SMS method has been selected. The result of thesis is a verification task of introducing the proposed method in the planning methodology and drafting a proposal for amendments to legislation to better pursue sustainability goals