- Published: 16.10.2025.
Minister Branko Bačić on a working visit to Dubrovnik – contracts for city development signed
Today Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets Branko Bačić visited Dubrovnik-Neretva County. On this occasion, in Dubrovnik, he signed the Contract on donating state-owned real estate to the Dioeceses of Dubrovnik for accommodating young families, as well as three contracts with and three consents to the City of Dubrovnik, which will improve the quality of life of local residents and contribute to further development of the city.
In the Bishop’s Ordinariate Minister Bačić met with Bishop Mons. Roko Glasnović, where they ceremonially signed the contract on donating a house and the associated land, covering 610.53 square metres. The real estate is located in Braće Andrijića Street, in the old city core and in immediate proximity of existing real estate owned by the Diocese of Dubrovnik.“It is our intention to help young and numerous families. We believe that in the foreseeable future we will find the funds to renovate the house, just as we did with the neighbouring house,” Bishop Glasnović said.
The Minister recalled that on February 1, 2019, the Government adopted the conclusion stating that the building in question was intended for transfer to the Diocese of Dubrovnik, but certain prerequisites had to be met.
“Now this is done. We have already talked to the Diocese about the possibility of land exchange which would enable the realisation of the National Housing Policy Plan and the Affordable Housing Programme. Such an exchange would enable the Diocese to build objects necessary for the activities of the Catholic Church,” the Minister clarified.
In early October this year, the Decision on donating real estate owned by the Republic of Croatia to the Diocese of Dubrovnik was adopted. The real estate worth 1.98 million euro will be developed for the purpose of accommodating young families at symbolic rents.
“The value is high because the real estate is located in one of the most elite parts of the Republic of Croatia - the old city core. The reason for signing the contract is the desire to contribute to the revitalisation of the core, because the Diocese will repurpose the old house for new apartments for young families of Dubrovnik, which will encourage young people to return to the historical centre,” the Minister said.
Then he recalled that after World War II, a large number of properties was taken from the Diocese, not only in Dubrovnik, but across the Diocese, which is now gradually returned by the Government in different forms and different locations. He also commented on the Act on the Implementation of the European Court’s Judgments of the Statileo Group and the Constitutional Court’s Decision, which entered into force in early April 2024. It addresses the issue of protected tenants and property of private owners, whose apartments were taken nearly eight decades ago. There are currently 112 families living in Dubrovnik under the protected tenant status. A new building will be built and state apartments will be developed to accommodate them, in order to finally resolve their housing situation and to return the property to the owners.
“Our company Državne nekretnine renovated nine apartments in the Dubrovnik area, with 12 apartments finished beforehand. The new building would almost completely finish the process. At yesterday’s session, based on the public call, the Government accepted the offer by the city company Vrtlar to purchase land including a building permit for the construction of a building in Solitud,” the Minister announced.
The ministry gives consent to important spatial-planning documents to the City of Dubrovnik
As part of the working visit to Dubrovnik, Minister Branko Bačić held a meeting with Mayor Mato Franković and associates, where two contracts and one addendum to the contract were awarded.
The first contract refers to an addendum to the contract on donating real estate owned by the Republic of Croatia to the City of Dubrovnik for the purpose of constructing a kindergarten in Komolac and an access road. This contract, and previously the Government’s decision, is a prerequisite for further realisation of the new kindergarten construction project, which will provide Dubrovnik with additional capacities for preschool education.
“We are particularly pleased that after six years we have met the prerequisites for the kindergarten construction. It is a kindergarten for 180 children, which clearly contributes to better preschool education of young residents of Dubrovnik,” the Minister pointed out.
The second contract refers to the use of the former clinic building in Stara Mokošica, covering 109 square metres, for the purpose of organising social, cultural and sports events. The City of Dubrovnik will renovate the object and put it to intended use within two years. The real estate is granted free of charge and for an unlimited period, as long as there is a need for it, since there is currently no adequate space for such a purpose in Mokošica.
The third contract refers to the use of business premises at Sustjepanska obala 31 and 31, covering a total of 146.81 square metres, which will be used as storage space for cultural material of city institutions. The premises are also granted free of charge, and the City is obliged to put them to intended use within two years. The state transfers two of the seven buildings at the Sustjepan location and is ready to transfer other buildings to the City for its needs as well.
“We are particularly pleased to have met all the prerequisites for obtaining a building permit, and then for the construction of Komolac kindergarten, an investment we want to finalise during this term. By transferring the former clinic building to Mokošica, we will ensure much-needed space for social purposes, while the renovation of real estate in Sustjepan will undoubtedly meet the needs of our cultural institutions for storing their material,” the Mayor said.
Along with said contracts, the City of Dubrovnik was also awarded three consents to:
- Final proposal of amendments to the Urban Development Plan Radeljević-Libertas,
- Final proposal of amendments to the Spatial Plan of the City of Dubrovnik and
- Final proposal of amendments to the General Urban Plan of the City of Dubrovnik.
These consents open the door to further improvement of physical and urban planning of the City of Dubrovnik, in accordance with its developmental needs and priorities.