COBALT Provides Pro Bono Assistance to Jurmala Protection Association in Constitutional Court Challenge to Territorial Planning Amendments

COBALT provided pro bono legal assistance to the Jurmala Protection Association in proceedings before the Constitutional Court challenging amendments to the territorial planning adopted by the Jurmala City Council. The case was brought by the Jurmala Protection Association in relation to changes that would have allowed construction in natural areas located in Bulduri, Stirnurags, Jaundubulti and Pumpuri. On 13 November 2025 the Constitutional Court delivered its judgment, finding that the binding regulations adopted by the Jurmala City Council, which reclassified certain plots from “natural base territory” to “residential area”, were incompatible with Article 115 of the Constitution guaranteeing the right to live in a benevolent environment. In its judgment the Court emphasised the role of the national development planning system in promoting sustainability, including the preparation of territorial planning documents. The Court concluded that, in conducting the strategic assessment of the territorial planning amendments, the Jurmala City Council failed to align land use decisions with the Jurmala Development Strategy 2010–2030. That strategy expressly prohibits fragmentation of large forest areas, requires preservation of dune ecosystems, and mandates protection and public accessibility of natural assets so that nature remains close and available to all city residents. The Court further observed that the contested regulation affected not only the rights of Jurmala’s residents but also the interests of society as a whole. It ruled that the regulation is null and void from the moment of its enactment; accordingly, the previous version of the Jurmala City spatial plan remains in force with respect to the relevant land plots. COBALT represented the Jurmala Protection Association with a team composed by: Senior Associate Gabriela Šantare; Junior Associates Roberts Gusts and Kārlis Ošs.

COBALT Provides Pro Bono Assistance to Jurmala Protection Association in Constitutional Court Challenge to Territorial Planning Amendments

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