NONA Forum held in Virovitica: Practical Solutions for Affordable Housing

NONA Forum held in Virovitica: Practical Solutions for Affordable Housing

On Tuesday, 17 March 2026, the NONA Forum: From Plan to Square Metre - Solutions That Transform Cities was held at the Virovitica University of Applied Sciences. The forum brought together representatives of cities, municipalities, counties, the state and other institutions, and development agencies to exchange experiences and present examples of good practice in the planning and implementation of housing and urban projects. Particular emphasis was placed on affordable and sustainable housing and on financing models.

The forum was organised by the City of Virovitica in collaboration with the Virovitica University of Applied Sciences (VUV), which is also an associate partner on the NONA New Governance for New Spaces co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg Danube Region 2021–2027 programme. This form of collaboration further underlines the importance of linking the academic and public sectors in the development of sustainable and affordable urban solutions.

At the opening, all those present were welcomed by the dean of the Virovitica University of Applied Sciences (VUV), Dejan Tubić, who highlighted the VUV's important role in the development of the city and the local economy, particularly through the education of young professionals and the promotion of continuing professional development.

"The space in which we find ourselves today demonstrates how much vision the city and the county have shown. We are situated within a student campus comprising the polytechnic building, a student hall of residence, a restaurant and a café, with a technology and innovation centre, a kindergarten, and a school in proximity. This is a clear example of how smaller cities can make systematic investments in their citizens and in spatial development. An increasing number of young people are coming to Virovitica, and our goal is to create conditions that will allow them to remain here after completing their studies. Through the work of the polytechnic, we wish to further strengthen the local economy and deliver tangible value to the local community," said Dean Tubić.

The Mayor of Virovitica, Ivica Kirin, emphasised the importance of holding the NONA Forum in Virovitica and noted that the City is already implementing measures to support affordable housing, including a cadastral survey that resolves property-legal relations and saves citizens considerable costs.

"Forums such as this one facilitate the exchange of experiences and concrete solutions. It is particularly important to improve urban planning and ensure affordable housing for young families. We are currently completing the survey in the remaining suburban settlements, making maximum use of available funds. The City is applying reductions to utility contributions - 50 per cent for young families without children, 80 per cent for families with one or two children, and 100 per cent for families with three or more children. Our aim is the balanced development of both the city and its surrounding area. In this way, we encourage young people to stay and build within our city's boundaries. We want balanced development across both the city and its surroundings, as measures skewed too heavily towards the city centre would place excessive strain on urban infrastructure," said Kirin, who also highlighted investments in transport infrastructure to improve quality of life, as well as the construction of 39 dwellings through the APN model, and further collaboration with the state on new measures.

One example of good practice presented at the forum was the Smart Kvart project from Varaždinske Toplice, introduced by Mayor Dragica Ratković herself.

"We launched the project in 2018, and spent the first three years preparing the documentation. Today, we are nearing the completion of works, from infrastructure development to the formation of 34 building plots for individual residential construction. Regrettably, according to the latest census, our population has fallen by almost 13 per cent compared with ten years ago. That is precisely why demography is our number one priority. The Smart Quarter demonstrates that the path is a long one, but I believe it is achievable and that it will be a success," said Mayor Ratković.

As part of the forum, concrete practical examples were presented illustrating different approaches to the planning and implementation of housing and urban projects. These included the development of the inclusive residential settlement Jug IV in Osijek, the revitalisation of the brownfield site of the former OLT industrial complex in Osijek, and the Smart Kvart project in Varaždinske Toplice, recognised as a model of contemporary and sustainable housing.

Particular emphasis was placed on the interconnection between planning, the legislative framework, and available funding sources. Sanja Bošnjak, State Secretary at the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and State Property, presented the key national strategic documents and legislation in the field of housing, whilst Dijana Bezjak, Head of the Financial Instruments Service at the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, presented financing opportunities through the Urban Development Fund and other European Union instruments, with a focus on combining grants and financial instruments for long-term sustainable investment.

The concluding segment featured a panel discussion in which, alongside the ministerial representatives Sanja Bošnjak (MPGI) and Dijana Bezjak (MRRFEU), city representatives Ivica Kirin (Virovitica), Sanda Pašuld (City of Osijek), and Dragica Ratković (Varaždinske Toplice) also took part. The panel discussion focused on accelerating affordable and sustainable housing, with practical examples particularly highlighting the importance of inter-institutional cooperation, the sharing of experiences between cities, and the need for more effective links between project planning and financing.

The holding of the NONA Forum confirmed the importance of EU projects in encouraging innovative approaches to spatial governance and housing development, whilst local partners, including Virovitica, demonstrated how collaboration with European initiatives can deliver tangible improvements to urban development.

(icv.hr, City of Virovitica, ib, Photo: I. Barčan, City of Virovitica)